Dying to be men: SA male mental health crisis

SOCIETY has become adept at counting dead men; we count them when they are murdered.

- JR SEBASTIAN

SOCIETY has become adept at counting dead men; we count them when they are murdered. We count them when they die in mines, construction accidents, and wars; we count them when they become victims of crime. Yet surprisingly when men die by their own hand, society suddenly becomes quiet.

Nearly 80% of all suicides in the country are committed by men, everyday, approximately 23 South Africans die by suicide and around 230 attempt it. The average number of suicides reported in one year is 13 774; 10 861 were men whilst 2 913 were women. South Africa's suicide rate stands at roughly 24 deaths per 100 000 people, placing it amongst the countries with the highest suicide burdens in the world. For men, the rate climbs to almost 38 per 100 000. This is not a marginal number; it rather points to a possible crisis that remains largely invisible.

Recognising the challenges faced by men does not diminish the challenges faced by women as they continue to confront gender-based violence, economic exclusion, discrimination and unequal care burdens. These realities remain urgent and demand action; however, acknowledging the plight of men should not come at the expense of acknowledging the suffering of women. Both are shaped, in different ways, by the same rigid patriarchal system that confines women and men to narrow expectations and denies both the freedom to live fully human lives.