Frequently asked Q's

• Is the risk of suicide greater if you are a man?

  Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50 in the UK. 

  About 3 out of 4 deaths from suicide each year are men. 

• Why do so many men die by suicide?

  
  Men can die by suicide for many reasons. But it often happens when their mental health is really bad.

  Men are less likely than women to talk about their mental health. One study found that only about 1 in 4 men who have mental health issues would talk to their friends about it. 

  The study also found that less than 1 in 2 men try to get professional help for their mental health. 

  The reasons why men often do not want to talk about their mental health, or seek help for it, can be complicated. But the reasons can include:  

  • Stigma about mental health
  • Expectations that men should be ‘strong’ and not talk about their emotions
  • Not wanting to trouble people
  • Family or cultural pressures
  • Social isolation
  • A poor understanding of your emotions

  For more information on how to deal with social isolation see our webpage on Social inclusion and mental illness - How can I become more connected.

• What can I do if I am having suicidal thoughts?

  You might be feeling overwhelmed and thinking about suicide. Our How do I manage thoughts of suicide? quick guide can help you.

  There are things you can do, and there are people who care and want to help. 

  For more information on longer term care, see our page on Suicidal thoughts - How to cope.

• How can I talk to someone about how I am feeling?

  Sometimes life feels really hard, and it can help to talk about how you are feeling. Talking about your worries can make things feel a bit lighter. 

  If you are having suicidal thoughts, talking about your feelings can really help.

  You might want to speak to someone you trust, like a friend or family member. But if that’s not easy, there are special phone lines you can call. They are called emotional support helplines.

  For more information please see our webpage on I want to talk to someone about how I am feeling. This page includes contact details of emotional support helplines.

• What can I do if I think someone I know is having suicidal thoughts?

  Someone you know might be having suicidal thoughts.  You can get advice and information on the following webpage:

  • Suicidal thoughts - How to support someone

  It gives advice on how you can support them when they are feeling this way. It also looks at support for you.

• Useful contacts
  • CALM      
  • Samaritans   
  • Andy’s Man Club      
  • Men’s Sheds Association 
  • Men’s Minds Matter     
  • Men Who Talk     
  • Man Up      
• Is this information accessible?
  • There is an accessibility function on this webpage called Recite.
  • On the desktop site, click on the icon in the top right-hand corner next to ‘Donate.’
  • On the mobile site, scroll right and click on the ‘Turn on accessibility’ icon.

  The Recite function allows you to:

  • translate the text into many different languages,
  • hear the text read aloud, in over 100 languages,
  • change the type and size of font, and
  • change the line height and character spacing,
    change the background colour of the text.

  For more information, you can watch this 2 minute video about How to use the Recite accessibility function.