According to recent reports 33 men between the ages of 14 and 44 suicide every week. It is the highest cause of death for men and about 80% of suicides are by men.

Recent news reports list a new organisation - Man Therapy - that targets men specifically http://mantherapy.org/ and is supported by Beyond Blue.

ABC article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-05/beyond-blue-launches-campaign-to-tackle-mental-health-in-men/4735546

This site uses humour to connect specifically with Aussie men to encourage them to seek help. The motivating force is the premise that men traditionally find it more difficult to share their feelings with family and friends. What do others think of the campaign. I am glad to see this important health issue being addressed and targeted in this way. I hope the campaign is successful.

Support organisations as follows:

http://mantherapy.org/
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/
http://www.mensheds.org.au/
http://www.lifeline.org.au/

Pelican a notable subject that had traditionally been hidden away by both the sufferer and those they cl interact with. Isolation is the product of depression be it clinical or social depression and we blokes know how to isolate, also how to brood on ourselves, so any program that fosters sharing is welcomed.

But males were not raised to share so the likelihood of sharing our most agonizing thoughts is slim, hence the suicides. As I experience it there are two forms of depression, clinical depression that occurs when there is not a black cloud in the sky and social depression brought about by personal upheaval such as in bankruptcy or losing your family in a custody battle. The loss brings on depression in some.

In clinical depression you need drugs and support. In social depression you need support and perhaps some drugs, but getting the horse to the trough is the mountain. If we know someone close or in passing and they show signs of depression, take an interest in them, not on their problems in particular, just in them, it helps. The blokes will open up sooner or later and begin to see clarity and reason.

Pelican

thanks for starting this thread. unfortunately though many disagree, the problem is just as much spiritual health as it is mental health. Drugs and counsel can cover the pain many men feel but can't remove it. It is similar to women who have been sexually abused as children. Only peace with One's Maker and inner healing can restore to life beyond existing.

Only peace with One's Maker and inner healing can restore to life beyond existing.
runner,
Less Government interference & fleecing us would be even better. I'm presently trying to get an area to be freed up for recreation but you would not believe the restrictions the authorities put up simply as to not have to be responsible, they don't mind their pays though.
Labor started this nonsense & the Coalition seems to not move a finger either. I hope Clive's lot has more in the Gonad department. It definitely would be a healthy change from the crew-cut asexuals of the past 20 years.

Pelican my impression is that there is little willingness by government to understand the causes of suicide so whilst I welcome anything which might help I have the strong suspicion that without a better understanding of the issues the effectiveness will be limited.

My own suspicion is that the family law system plays a big part but I've yet to see any analysis of the proportion of men attempting suicide who are dealing with family law or CSA issues. As I've suggested previously perhaps a better understanding would come from death rates as some accidents can be hard to be certain about.

I reached a point where I sought help last year after coming back into contact with CSA and not coping with the impact on my life. The problem was that although the service I contacted could give a sympathetic ear they could do nothing to change the situation. I was fortunate that I had other support in my life, what I needed was a fix to an ongoing abuse perpetrated by the government. Thankfully my circumstances changed as there was no safety net in the system. I made a point of letting CSA and others know that I wasn't coping and it did not elicit any follow up to address that side of things.

My impression is that most men can and will cope if given the chance to sort out a problem, to make the necessary changes in their life to get on with it. We don't do so well when the government had made it a mission to ensure that does not fix anything.

R0bert

Sometimes it is harder to live than to die. Many of us have been to this place and some take the easy option, which I understand. When you know who or what are your true oppressors,then it will all change.

No one chooses to end their lives based on a whim. It is a serious decision based on hopelessness and we are all responsible.