If you are unnerved by suicide statistics or have seriously considered committing suicide, reader discretion is advised for this section.
When you hear the phrase “Man up,” what do you think of? Do you think of the simple idea that men need to stuff their emotions down, disregarding their honest thoughts and feelings about their sadness? Of course not. I believe we, as a generation, have made strides to outgrow that phrase and become more open to mental health. Despite this, we may not say “man up” anymore, but I believe we still show that ideal with our actions.
It’s 10 days past September, and I still haven’t heard anything about Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Not to get too deep, but according to the Center for Disease Control’s 2022 statistics regarding suicide rates, someone commits suicide every 11 minutes, and 80% of all suicides are men. These statistics, while infamous, aren’t shared enough. It truly is insane that we glorify the importance of mental health but don’t raise awareness for the people who need it most.
For those not in the know, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I think I went all 30 days without seeing anything local about the topic. Nearly everyone has access to social media and, by extension, a platform to educate an audience about mental health. I am not going to act better than anyone though, I am guilty of this, too. I didn’t do my part then, so I am giving my best effort to do it now.
According to the CDC, in 2022, 13.2 million recorded people considered suicide, 3.8 million made a suicide plan, and 1.6 million reported attempting suicide. According to the CDC in 2021, suicide in the United States was the second leading cause of death in children ages 10-14 and 25-34, while the third leading cause of death in ages 15-24.
Can we talk about how insane that statistic is? How do we seem to ignore a problem that is simultaneously so important to us? How can we talk about the isolation someone feels when they’re depressed when we are too afraid to speak up ourselves?
We must do better. Give a compliment to someone, reach out to an old friend or offer help to someone completely unaffiliated with you. Be kind for no reason.
The truth though, is only some people will read this. Others will go on about their day, merely acknowledging a problem ravaging generations of isolated boys and men. Despite this, we don’t have to “man up” to simply raise awareness. Just reach out.
