Suicide isn’t a pleasant subject, and it seems that, as quickly as it is raised and discussed publicly, a new silence closes in around it. Yet however uncomfortable we might feel about it, the tragedy of around seven men dying by suicide each day in Australia, and around twelve men dying by suicide each day in England and Wales, is simply unacceptable – as is the awful aftermath of suffering for those left to grieve and deal with often unanswerable questions for years. We need to talk about it; we need to do something about it. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2025; Mindframe, 2024; Office for National Statistics [ONS], 2024; Samaritans, 2024)
Men who experience suicidal thoughts should be considered as being in real danger, because evidence from large population surveys suggests that a non‑trivial minority of people who report suicidal thoughts go on to make a suicide attempt, with 12‑month transition estimates commonly falling in the range of about 5% to 12% (Haregu et al., 2023; Jollant et al., 2024). Men who are experiencing persistent low mood and other forms of severe psychological distress (often previously diagnosed under the broad label “depression”) need to take their condition seriously as well, because suicidal thinking and behaviour are strongly associated with severe and persistent mood disturbance, hopelessness, and related symptoms, and the risk of suicide increases when distress is not addressed with timely, appropriate help (ABS, 2025; NHS England Digital, 2025; World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). However, some men appear to attempt suicide more on impulse – not so much because they want to die, but as a way of escaping the psychological pain and anguish they are experiencing (WHO, 2014).
Men experiencing suicidal thoughts need to hear a number of important things:
- No matter how bad your situation, no matter how overwhelming your mental or emotional pain, there is always a better option than considering suicide – but it may not have occurred to you. Speak to a doctor, go to a hospital emergency department, or contact a 24/7 crisis support service (in Australia, Lifeline on 13 11 14; in the UK and Ireland, Samaritans on 116 123); help and relief can quickly follow (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2022; WHO, 2014).
- A man who kills himself does terrible violence to his family and friends. Thinking “they’d be better off without me” doesn’t cancel out the fact that they’d be greatly damaged – perhaps for life. Promise yourself (and someone else) that you’ll get help, that you’ll do it now, and you won’t give up until you get it (WHO, 2014).
- Suicidal thinking is often driven by intense distress, including sustained low mood, loss of interest, sleep disturbance, agitation, anxiety, and a sense of hopelessness. Risk of suicide increases when severe distress is left unaddressed. Seek help immediately (NHS England Digital, 2025; WHO, 2014).
- Who are the people that really matter to you? Think about why they matter, and the good things that have happened between you.
- If you have a gun, rope, pills, or anything else you’ve thought of using to kill yourself, either lock them up and give the key to someone for safe keeping, or hand them over to someone, so that you’re kept from harm’s way until you’ve received help and have recovered (WHO, 2014).
- Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and overwhelming mental or emotional pain can be quickly turned around with appropriate support (NICE, 2022; WHO, 2014).
- Things can be made to feel and look very different; hope for the future can be restored, if you act with courage and speak to a doctor, go to a hospital emergency department, or contact a 24/7 crisis support service (NICE, 2022; WHO, 2014).
More powerful than all problems is the courage to deal with them.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2025). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020–2022. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/latest-release
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2025). Suicide & self‑harm monitoring: Summary. https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/overview/summary
Haregu, T. N., Lee, J., Oldenburg, B., & Tey, N. P. (2023). The rate of transition to a suicide attempt among people with suicidal ideation: A systematic review and meta‑analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 332, 1–10.
Jollant, F., et al. (2024). Suicidal transition rates and their predictors in the adult population: A multi‑survey study.
Mindframe. (2024). ABS data summary 2023 (Causes of Death: Suicide). https://mindframe.org.au/suicide/data-statistics/abs-data-summary-2023
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Self‑harm: Assessment, management and preventing recurrence (NG225). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng225
NHS England Digital. (2025). Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/24: Suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and non‑suicidal self‑harm.