On the 5th April 1994, Kurt Cobain—the lead singer of the grunge band, Nirvana—pointed a loaded shotgun at his face at his Seattle home and pulled the trigger. He was found dead three days later by an electrical worker—the shotgun was splayed against his body. A suicide note impaled with a pen was found in a nearby flowerpot. Immediately following Cobain’s death, the Seattle King County area reported a significant increase in suicide crisis calls.    

So why did one of the famous and successful musicians in the world, harbouring a huge $multimillion net worth, decide to end his life at the age of 27? Although many highlight the fact that Cobain’s bipolar diagnosis and substance misuse had strong influences on his suicide—is this enough to explain his death? This article will discuss suicide at large. To mark #Movember and acknowledge the startling increased prevalence rates of completed suicides in men worldwide, we will focus particularly on male suicides. ​    

Fact: Studies have consistently found that men, worldwide, are killing themselves far more successfully than women. This is not to say that women have fewer suicidal thoughts. Rather, men are using more lethal means than women when trying to end their lives. This gender discrepancy has been referred to as the “gender paradox of suicidal behaviour” (GPSB). But why is this happening? And what can we do about it?  

Numerous theories have been put forward to explain the GPSB. Social stigma has been attributed to this phenomenon. Indeed, Mental Health Foundation report that men are more reluctant to “open up” and “talk” about their thoughts and feelings. Women with suicidal thoughts, in comparison, more often share their feelings are and consequently more likely to receive support during difficult times. Moreover, many men report that by talking about their feelings, they fear rejection from family and friends as they may be seen “weak”: This assumption may stem from conditioning in childhood, whereby boys are told to be tough and not to cry.    

Yet, knowing what to do in times of crisis is not always intuitive. Thankfully, help is at hand.     

For men thinking ending their lives, the organisation: Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM; www.thecalmzone.net) is sets out help men “open up” in a safe and confidential environment. The Maytree Suicide Respite Centre provides sanctuary for those contemplating suicide, the only one of its kind in the UK (www.maytree.org.uk). The Samaritans, perhaps one of the most famous crisis organisations, provides a safe and confidential space to talk about suicide issues. MIND and the Mental Health Foundation can offer greater awareness and education about the issue of male suicides, encouraging men and boys to realise that it is ok to be open about mental health non-judgmentally.    

For those who believe they are at immediate risk of suicide and are uncomfortable contacting the above organisations, the emergency services (999) and hospital emergency departments can also help.   

By Daniel MacInerney BSc. (Hons.) MSc. and Thomas Brown BA (Hons.) PG Cert. MBPsS

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