MEN AND WOMEN AGED 25 - 55

 Some Features Of Men And Women Aged 25-55

These are features of men and women aged 25-55 to be considered along with risk factors.

  • Life event (e.g. separation, loss of custody of children, loss of job, bankruptcy, imprisonment).
  • Personal characteristics (e.g. aggressiveness, hopelessness, poor sense of control, low self-esteem, rigid thinking, worrying, reduced problem solving capacity, impulsivity).
  • Poor social connections, antisocial behaviour.
  • Neighbourhood crime.
  • Feelings of shame, inadequacy and defeat.
  • Lack of meaning and purpose in life.
  • Mood disorders, (eg. bipolar disorder, depression).
  • Alcohol and illicit drug use disorders.
  • Childhood sexual abuse.
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Low income level.
  • Seasonal (un)employment.
  • Those in rural and remote areas may experience
    • climatic variability,
    • political issues related to the farming industry,
    • economic fluctuations, and
    • the impact of mining.
  • Difficult to access this group to give them health information.
  • Men are often too ashamed of their suicidal thoughts to mention that they have them.
  • Australian males’ help-seeking behaviours may be negatively influenced by masculine stereotypes and perceptions of stoicism and self-sufficiency.
  • Veterans may experience PTSD, bereavement through fellow soldiers’ suicide, and problematic help seeking.
  • Fertility issues, pregnancy (wanted/unwanted), postnatal depression, menopause.
  • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby helpline Phone 1800 882 436 (24 hours)
  • Raising Children Network raisingchildren.net.au
  • Relationships Australia relationships.com.au Phone: 1300 364 277
  • Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service http://www.vvcs.gov.au/  Phone: 1800 011 046 (24 hours)
  • Veterans and Veterans Families: Health and Wellbeing https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing

Multiple factors can interact to lead a person to suicidal behaviour, for example:

Impulsivity + alcohol + mental health disorder + life event  =  high risk combination

Useful contacts for men and women

  • Australasian Menopause Society http://www.menopause.org.au Phone: 03 9428 8738
  • Australian Men’s Shed Association  https://mensshed.org Phone: 1300 550 009
  • Beyond Blue   www.beyondblue.org.au Phone: 1300 224 636 (24 hours)
  • Blue Knot Foundation   https://www.blueknot.org.au/ Information and Counselling Support Helpline for adults affected by childhood trauma/abuse Phone: 1300 657 380
  • Children of Parents with a Mental Illness http://www.copmi.net.au/  
  • Family Drug Support www.fds.org.au Phone: 1300 368 186 (24 hours)
  • FNQ Suicide Prevention Taskforce http://www.suicidepreventionfnq.org.au/
  • Information on Mental Health issues, programs and services https://headtohealth.gov.aui
  • Lifeline lifeline.org.au Phone: 13 11 14 (24 hours)
  • Mates in Construction http://www.matesinconstruction.org.au/ Phone: 1300 642 111 (24 hours)
  • MensLine Australia https://mensline.org.au/ Phone: 1300 78 99 78 (24 hours)
  • National Sexual Assault and Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service https://www.1800respect.org.au/about-us/ Phone: 1800 737 732 (24 hours)
  • On the line Australia suicide callback service and online counselling at suicidecallbackservice.org.au Phone: 1300 659 467 (24 hours)
  • Parents Beyond Breakup Support for Separated Dads in Distress and Mums in Distress Phone 1300 853 437

[1] Kõlves, K., Kumpula, E., & De Leo, D. (eds.). (2013). Suicidal behaviours in men: determinants and prevention. Brisbane, Australia: Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention.

[2] Suicide Prevention Australia (2016). Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour in Women – Issues and Prevention. A Discussion Paper. Sydney, Australia: Suicide Prevention Australia.

[3] Hunt, T., Wilson, C.J., Caputi, P., Woodward, A., & Wilson, I. (2017). Signs of current suicidality in men: A systematic review. PLoS ONE 12(3), e0174675. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174675              

Impulsivity + alcohol + mental health disorder + life event  =  high risk combination

 

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