Non-disclosure of mental health issues ‘contributing to male suicide’

MEN’S continuing inability to admit to mental health problems is contributing to the high suicide rate among males, a conference will hear tomorrow.

Citing official figures that show that four times as many men die by suicide than women in Ireland, Anne Cleary from University College Dublin said that while society had changed and it was more acceptable for males to share feelings of disquiet over depression, many men still felt unable to raise the issue.

The forum, which will be opened by Health Minister Mary Harney in Dublin tomorrow, is part of National Men’s Health Week, which began yesterday. The event is organised by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland.