Reports that surfaced after alt-rock band Soundgarden's Chris Cornell killed himself suddenly on Wednesday indicate that middle-aged Men are much more likely to commit suicide than any other group in America.
Records from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that approximately 121 Americans kill themselves everyday -- and, of those individuals, more than 75% of them are male. More detailed data shows that of those males, seven out of every ten are white and aged between 45 and 65.
Middle-aged male suicides often come as a shock to family members
Experts claim that the alarming rate of middle-aged male suicides hasn't garnered much serious attention in recent years. So, fittingly, the suicide of most middle-aged white men comes as a shock to most families that "didn't see signs of mental health struggles" early on.
According to Julie Cerel, president of the American Association of Suicidology, the male ego could play a large role in this conundrum. Cerel, who is also a professor at the University of Kentucky School of Social Work, indicates that men "notoriously don't seek help" to begin with -- and as they age and become more complacent in their lives, it becomes that much harder for them to learn how to "reach out and get help" when they need it.
In terms of expressing emotions, Cerel suggests that many middle-aged men have no idea how to even begin the process.
Cerel goes on to assert that most men are wary of doctor visits, and usually only tend to oblige if they're forced to. This stubborn refusal to seek help or legitimately assess their own mental state means, far too often, family members and loved ones of these men simply don't know to look for subtle signs that something may be wrong.
Varied approaches to dealing with male suicide could reverse this trend
But, according to sources, this trend could gradually change. The National Council for Behavioral Health offers what they refer to as a "Mental Health First Aid" training course online, available for anyone to take. The course is described as a means to give people "the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis." After completing the 8-hour session, participants are allegedly better prepared to assess and potentially negate possible suicidal situations.
Additionally, light-hearted sites like mantherapy.org attempt to address the very serious issue of male mental health problems in a way that doesn't feel "feminine" or "gimmicky." In fact, the site's home page describes its approach as "therapy from the creators of pork chops and fighter jets."
According to psychologist Doreen Marshall, mixed approaches to dealing with middle-aged male suicide like these show that the traditional clinician's role may not be the best option for dealing with all forms of mental illness.
As research continues to take place, experts hope to find a way to reverse this disturbing trend.
