Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health whether any recent analysis has been carried out on factors contributing to disparities in suicide rates in males and females.
Minister of Health: The latest Suicide Statistics from NISRA show that in 2024, males made up 79.3% of total suicide deaths in Northern Ireland with females making up the remaining 20.7%. Research shows that in Western Countries men are more than 3 times more likely to die by suicide than women. This is partly the result of differences in the lethality of methods used. There is also evidence that cultural perceptions of masculinity impact negatively upon men’s help-seeking behaviour. Psychological distress is perceived by many men as a weakness and as representing a loss of control, whilst seeking support equates to an acknowledgement of vulnerability.
Males can be reluctant to disclose mental health concerns to their GP and often present with physical symptoms even when there are underlying mental health issues. Some men turn to problematic “coping strategies” such as alcohol use, repression of feelings, and social withdrawal as a means of responding to psychological distress. The most commonly reported trigger to seeking support for many men is when they have reached crisis point in terms of psychological distress.
Evidence indicates that to effectively engage men with their mental and emotional health, it is necessary to build trust and rapport, work in informal non-medicalised environments, consider the use of technology, and adopt a strengths-based approach involving a focus on hope, optimism and solutions.
ENDS
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