Conference Agenda

Aims and objectives: Male suicides are often associated with masculinity norms that encourage certain behaviours that increase the risk of suicide. For example, research shows that restricted emotionality, avoidance of seeking help and self-reliance are associated with higher suicide risk. However, these pre-formulated aspects of masculinity do not necessarily reflect men's subjective opinions of what masculinity is to them. Researchers argue that it is important to consider personal views about what masculinity is, not only stereotypes about masculinity. This study aimed to reveal and compare the subjective opinions about the masculinity of men with and without suicidal ideation.

Method: 281 Lithuanian men answered the open-ended question during the survey: "What does masculinity mean to you?". The answers were analyzed using a content analysis method. We transformed qualitative data into quantitative and compared them statistically between two groups: men with and without suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation was estimated with the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS).

Results: Overall, research participants mentioned various aspects of masculinity, including stereotypical attitudes toward masculinity (e.g. strength, stoicism, power, etc.), but the study also revealed the other, less known side of masculinity: family, relations with others, experience of emotions, providing support, etc. Men with suicidal thoughts were more likely to mention that masculinity is the control of emotions, intelligence, and decision-making. Men without suicidal thoughts were more likely to mention family and caring for it as essential aspects of masculinity.

Conclusion: The results showed that certain aspects of masculinity might be related to a higher risk for suicide, but the study also revealed that masculinity might be a source of coping. Men's suicide prevention strategies should consider both positive and negative aspects of masculinity.

In almost every country, men die by suicide at higher rates than women, yet major gaps remain in our understanding of what elevates men’s risk.

We conducted a qualitative metasynthesis and systematic review of 20-years of studies with men who are suicidal and bereaved significant others to identify critical risk and recovery factors. We reviewed 78 studies representing insights from more than 1,695 people and used thematic synthesis to systematically compare and integrate findings.

In 96% of studies, we found evidence of an association between masculine norms and suicide risk. Masculine norms relating to male emotional suppression, failing to meet standards of male success, and the devaluing of men’s interpersonal needs were associated with some men experiencing denial, disconnection, and dysregulation within three core psychological domains: 1) emotions (92% of papers), 2) self (76% of papers), and 3) interpersonal connections (82% of papers). These processes seem to be associated with 1) increasing men's psychological pain, and 2) diminishing men's ability to regulate that pain, which we suggest elevates distal/proximal suicide risk.

Addressing the male suicide crisis may require a gender-sensitive perspective that recognises how masculine norms shape men’s psychological pain and the ways this distress is interpreted and responded to. Deepening our understanding of specific masculine norms and their potential harmful effects may be essential for developing effective male suicide prevention and intervention strategies.

Background: Similar to global trends, middle-aged men (40 to 70 years old) in the Netherlands have the highest risk of dying by suicide. Masculinity may substantially influence male suicide, yet its role has not been examined among middle-aged men who died by suicide in the Netherlands. This study investigates the role and psychological influence of masculine norms on mental health and suicidality. The goal is to enhance understanding of contributing factors and inform targeted suicide prevention strategies.

Methods: Through a psychosocial autopsy approach, 30 interviews were conducted between 2021 and 2023 with proxy-informants of 25 middle-aged men (M=54.6 years) who died by suicide. The 3D Model of Masculine Norms and Male Suicide Risk was employed as an analytical lens to examine how masculinity norms shape psychological domains the self, interpersonal relationships, and emotions.

Results: Cultural norms of masculinity (e.g., self-reliance, status, and strength) contributed to a pattern of escalating difficulties, worsening of overall well-being, and influenced suicidality. In line with the theoretical framework, norms related to failing to meet standards of male success (e.g., job-loss), devaluing interpersonal needs (e.g., isolation), and emotional suppression (e.g., alcohol use) were connected to a dysregulation in psychological domains the self, interpersonal connections, and emotions. The perpetuation of these norms by the environment was notable, sometimes evident from a young age.

Conclusion: This study underscores the impact of cultural norms of masculinity on men's mental well-being and suicidality, and demonstrates how this theoretical perspective can yield new understandings of suicide risk. Suicide prevention efforts should not only work to maximize opportunities to address the role expectations experienced by men, strengthening interpersonal connections, and reducing emotional suppression, but also advocate for broader societal changes.

Introduction: Suicide is a leading cause of mortality for adolescent males in the United States (CDC, 2024). According to suicide-scripts theory (Canetto, 1997, 2021), cultural norms of gender and suicidality, including gendered beliefs about warning signs, contribute to culture- and age- specific female and male suicidality-patterns (Canetto & Sakinofsky, 1998). A limitation of past research about warning signs is that it has not examined warning signs by sex, age and culture.

Method: Building on the method of past suicide warning-signs research (Canetto et al., 2023), this study examined U.S. beliefs about adolescent-male suicide warning-signs. Participants (N=279; 50.2% “White”, M_age= 19.9 years, 49.8% female) completed a survey assessing adolescent-male suicide warning-signs beliefs (i.e., “In my community most people believe that common warning signs of suicide in adolescent … males . . . are:___”) and respondents’ personal views about the reported-beliefs. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic-analysis method was used to organize the responses into themes.

Results: A commonly-reported community belief was that major changes in mood and behavior are warning signs of adolescent-male suicide. Many participants reported the belief that adolescent males do not give warning signs: “it can be difficult to … see warning signs with young males,” said a respondent. Some beliefs varied by respondents’ sex and history of suicidality. Male respondents were more likely to report the belief that depression and giving away possessions are warning signs. Individuals with personal history of suicidality were more likely to report the belief that talking about suicide is a warning sign. Most participants (74.2%) agreed/strongly agreed with the community beliefs that they reported.

Conclusions: This study’s findings give clues to beliefs that may interfere with male-suicide prevention. For example, the view that adolescent males do not give warning signs might reinforce the false belief that adolescent male suicide cannot be prevented.

Introduction: Evidence links interpersonal violence (IPV) with suicidality, but little is known about this relationship among males.

Objectives: To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between IPV use and exposure and suicidality (suicidal ideation and attempts) among Australian adult males.

Methods: Data were drawn from the first three waves of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health, collected two and six years after baseline. IPV exposure (feeling frightened, physical harm, forced sexual activity) and IPV use (causing fear, physical harm, forced sexual activity) were assessed. At Wave 1, we examined associations between IPV and lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts. At Waves 2 and 3, we analysed whether IPV at Wave 1 predicted suicidal ideation and attempts within the past 12 months. Modified Poisson and logistic regression models were used.

Results: At Wave 1, 30.3% of participants reported IPV exposure, 23.7% reported IPV use, and 15.7% reported both. IPV exposure (RR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.69–2.02) and IPV use (RR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.79–2.14) were significantly associated with lifetime suicidal ideation. Those exposed to IPV were nearly three times more likely to report a lifetime suicide attempt (OR = 2.83; 95% CI: 2.27–3.54), while those who used IPV were more than twice as likely (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.89–2.94). At Wave 2, IPV exposure (RR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.28–1.84) and use (RR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.55–2.22) predicted suicidal ideation, and both were associated with increased odds of suicide attempts. By Wave 3, these associations were no longer evident, suggesting risk diminished over time.

Conclusion: Findings highlight the need to integrate IPV and suicide prevention efforts and to provide sustained mental health support to males who experience or use violence.