Men and suicide prevention: a scoping review

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Abstract

Background: Male suicide rates are higher than their female counterparts in almost every country around the world. Several developed countries have attempted to implement suicide prevention programmes, but few have specifically targeted men.
Aims: To identify what is currently known about suicide prevention strategies, programmes, and interventions of relevance to men.
Method: A scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley’s five-stage framework.
Results: 22 studies were included. Thematic analysis identified three categories: (i) male suicide prevention interventions; (ii) factors or coping strategies that interrupt the suicidal process in men; (iii) men’s perspectives on service provision. Interventions included awareness campaigns; training
of community ‘gatekeepers’; psychological support; and educational initiatives targeted to either GPs or depressed or suicidal men. Men emphasised the need to receive support from a trusted and respected individual, preferably in an informal setting. Connecting with others, reframing help-seeking as masculine, and the use of emotional regulation techniques were all identified as factors
with potential to interrupt the suicidal process.
Conclusions: This review demonstrates the need for further research examining the perspectives of suicidal middle-aged men and their close family and friends.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Mental Health
Early online date5 Sept 2017
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 5 Sept 2017

Bibliographical note

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

Keywords

  • Men's Health
  • SUICIDE
  • Masculinity

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