Genderification

The epidemic of men’s issues that are largely ignored

Jessica Berget, Editor-in-Chief and Janis McMath, Assistant Editor

N ovember 19 is International Men’s Day and many
question the need for a day dedicated to men. Some
even argue that because men are ina position of power
and privilege, they don’t deserve a day. The Other Press
has compiled a few of men’s key issues—excluding false

rape accusations, discrimination against men in female-
dominated professions, workplace related deaths, and a
lack of awareness of prostate cancer—that are important
to address. These men’s issues, plus many more,
highlight why International Men's Day is important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death rates of suicide per 100,000 population in 2016 (by age and sex)

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Age group (years)
Chart from the Public Health Agency of Canada
Suicide

hile it is a known fact that women attempt suicide

more often than men—about three to four times—
the stats show that men’s attempts at suicide are much
more fatal. 75 to 80 percent of deaths by suicide in
Canada are made up by men. Men are more likely to
die when committing suicide because their methods
of suicide much more violent—usually by hanging or
gunshot. According to Craig Martin, the Movember
Foundation’s global director of Mental Health and
Suicide Prevention in Canada, eight men die by suicide
every day, or 50 men per week. Psychologists recognize
this epidemic and are investigating the potential causes,
and several reasons surface when researching men’s
depression and death. Men are less likely to reach out
for help, says the American Psychological Association.
Societal pressure tells men that showing their emotions
is weak. A study by the British Journal of Developmental
Psychology has shown that mothers talk more often
about feelings with their daughters than their sons.
This suppression of emotion this leads to men being
ashamed and reluctant to search for help, and in turn,
relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms.

"There tends to be more substance use and alcohol
use among males, which may just reflect the distress
they're feeling—but we know it compounds the issue of
suicide," explains Harkavy-Friedman, the vice-president
of research at the American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention, in a BBC article. In fact, men are nearly twice
as likely as women to form an alcohol dependence.
Alcohol is a depressant, so drinking can worsen
depression and make people more impulsive. Alcoholism
is also a Known risk factor for suicide.

Additionally, men’s occupations are another
concern that could lead to feeling suicidal. A National
Post article states that “Suicide in men may be linked
to occupational stress. Men continue to make up the
overwhelming proportion of people working in the most
dangerous and dirty occupations [...] Many of these jobs
are subject to the whims of the seasonal and economic
cycle, with periods of intense work followed by periods
of unemployment. The very nature of these jobs can
further expose workers to social isolation, separation
from family, physical risk, injury and violence. This in turn
can lead to higher rates of disability, substance use and
post-traumatic stress disorder, all proven predictors of
suicide.”