Why Suicide Rates Are Higher in Men: Causes and Prevention
This paper investigates why suicide rates are significantly higher in men than in women, using a multi-method approach that combines a systematic literature review with qualitative semi-structured interviews. Six peer-reviewed studies from Embase, Medline, and CINAHL are analyzed thematically, yielding four key themes: greater prevalence of suicide in men, social isolation and stress, elevated risk among older adult men (65+), and preference for violent suicide methods. These themes are then validated through interviews with seven men who previously attempted suicide. Findings reveal that masculinity norms, financial pressure, lack of social support, and reluctance to seek help are primary contributing factors. The paper concludes with recommendations for early detection of warning signs, psychosocial interventions, and strengthening social connectedness to prevent male suicide.
- Introduction and Background: Scope, global statistics, and neurobiological context
- Methodology and Search Strategy: Multi-method design, databases, eligibility criteria
- Systematic Literature Review: Six peer-reviewed studies summarized in table form
- Thematic Analysis of Key Findings: Four themes extracted from reviewed literature
- Qualitative Research and Interview Findings: Interview responses from seven suicide attempt survivors
- Discussion: Literature themes validated against interview data
- Conclusion and Recommendations: Prevention strategies and future research directions
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What makes this paper effective
- The multi-method design — pairing a systematic literature review with semi-structured interviews — gives the findings both breadth and depth, strengthening the validity of identified themes.
- The thematic analysis is tightly structured: each theme is named, supported by specific studies, and then re-examined against qualitative data, creating a clear chain of evidence.
- Interview responses are reported question-by-question with enough granular detail to illustrate individual variation while still allowing pattern recognition across participants.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates triangulation — using two independent data sources (published literature and primary interview data) to cross-validate the same set of themes. This technique strengthens credibility in qualitative research by showing that findings are not dependent on a single method or sample.
Structure breakdown
The paper follows a formal research-report structure with eight numbered chapters: background, methodology, literature review (presented as a summary table), thematic analysis, qualitative research design, findings reported by interview question, discussion linking both data sources, and a conclusion with recommendations and future research directions. Appendices include the interview protocol and a note on data representation. This clear chapter-by-chapter organization makes it a useful model for undergraduate mixed-methods research writing.
Introduction and Background
Suicide can be considered a serious mental health crisis that requires intervention before tragedy occurs. It is imperative to recognize the warning signs in a person who is under stress or experiencing depression so that prompt help can be provided (Casarella, 2020). Family and friends are often the first to notice these signs, as the person frequently gives hints to those close to them before committing such an act. Globally, the suicide rate in men is approximately double that of women (Ritchie, Roser & Ortiz-Ospina, 2015). This paper aims to explore why this rate is higher in men, using a systematic literature review followed by a qualitative research analysis to validate the themes identified in the literature.
Statistics from 2017 revealed that the suicide rate for men was 3.5 times higher than that of women in the same year (Kennard, 2020). The demographic group most affected is middle-aged White men, who accounted for 70% of all male suicides; however, the risk is even greater among men of older ages. Reports have indicated that men tend to choose more lethal methods when attempting suicide, although women have been observed to have a greater rate of attempts overall.
The neurobiology underlying suicidal behavior involves a complex interplay of brain structures and alterations in brain functioning. Low concentrations of 5-HIAA (a serotonin metabolite) is one recognized factor, as depression and anxiety in men are associated with this neurochemical imbalance. Such conditions impose lasting effects on the family members and friends of men who die by suicide. It is most likely that men who attempt suicide experience a significantly diminished quality of life and feel unable to envision an alternative.
Methodology and Search Strategy
Research Question
The research question guiding this study is: Why is suicide more prevalent in men?
Research Design
A multi-method research design was employed. First, a systematic literature review was conducted, followed by qualitative research using semi-structured interviews. The themes identified from the literature were then assessed and compared with the qualitative research results. The literature review was conducted across three databases using predetermined exclusion and inclusion criteria to ensure rigor. A thematic analysis was subsequently conducted to identify recurring themes from prior studies, allowing for an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of existing scholarship. The qualitative component consisted of semi-structured interviews with men who had previously attempted suicide, conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of their mental states and the motivations behind their attempts. The themes derived from the qualitative research were used to corroborate and reinforce the findings from the literature review.
Data Sources and Search Strategy
For the systematic literature review, three databases were selected — Embase, Medline, and CINAHL — to identify peer-reviewed articles most relevant to the research question. The review was refined to six papers, enabling a systematic, rigorous, and wide-ranging critique of the evidence through thematic analysis. The thematic analysis extracted recurring themes from the texts, which were later used to inform the evaluation of the qualitative research. For the qualitative component, semi-structured interviews were conducted with men who had previously attempted suicide. The interviews took place in the presence of a psychiatric specialist in his clinical setting. The participants were his patients who had received counseling from the same doctor and had since recovered from acute symptoms. The results from the interviews were used to corroborate the themes identified in the systematic literature review and to provide additional supporting evidence for the paper's conclusions.
Keywords Used for Conducting Online Research
The following keywords were used to conduct the extensive literature search: suicide in men, high rate of suicide in men, men committing suicide, factors leading men to suicide, suicidality in men, male suicide, and male intentions for suicide.
Eligibility Criteria (Inclusion and Exclusion)
Selected articles were considered eligible primarily because they were directly relevant to the research question — that is, they explored reasons for the high rate of suicide in men. Articles focused on female suicide or on family members affected by male suicidal behavior were excluded, as neither population was the focus of this study. Articles published before 2015 were also excluded so that only recent research would inform the analysis of contemporary factors contributing to male suicide. An additional search strategy involved examining the reference sections of selected articles to identify further relevant sources, opening new dimensions of inquiry. For example, this extended search illuminated the finding that men who suffer from depression frequently do not seek medical help.
Systematic Literature Review
More than 100 articles were identified when the keywords were entered into the databases; however, only six met the inclusion criteria and were selected for review. The systematic literature review is presented below in chronological order, providing a comprehensive overview of the scholarly research on male suicide.
Player et al. (2015) aimed to examine the factors contributing to suicide among at-risk men and the role of families in suicide prevention. One-to-one interviews and a focus group study revealed five major themes related to mood distortions in men and offered suggestions for how behavioral detection and care could improve prevention efforts.
Keohane & Richardson (2018) explored the role of masculinity in help-seeking behavior among men with depression and their willingness to provide psychological support to those at risk. A focus group study revealed three themes, suggesting that masculinity plays a dominant role in determining whether men seek and accept help in times of distress — a dynamic that can shape patterns of suicide prevention.
Conejero et al. (2018) investigated recent findings on suicidal ideation among adults and the risk factors that contribute to suicide attempts. A PubMed literature search concluded that stress, psychological distress, and social isolation are the primary causes of suicidal thoughts and should be targeted in prevention efforts.
Sargeant, Forsyth & Pitman (2018) examined suicide epidemiology among men in Greenland, drawing comparisons with other demographic groups in Denmark and Greenland. An extensive literature review found that Greenlandic men aged 15–24 had the highest prevalence of suicide, with young men more prone to suicide than women or any other male age group.
Kootbodien et al. (2020) scrutinized suicide death rates and trends in South Africa from 1997 to 2016. Death registration data showed that more men died by suicide than women, and that the average years of potential life lost (YPLL) were higher among men than women.
Rosso et al. (2020) evaluated the factors associated with violent suicide attempts, specifically among patients with bipolar disorder. Statistical results indicated that male gender was significantly associated with the use of violent methods in suicide attempts.
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