These sad statistics reflect skyrocketing suicide rates among men. In the 1960s, about double the number of men to women died from suicide. Now, about triple the number of men die from suicide in Australia each year. This is consistent with trends observed in other Western countries, according to Mindframe. Other new research by British charity "Calm" (Campaign Against Living Miserably) has found that more than four in 10 men have thought about taking their own lives at some point. It seems that a culture of stoicism in men and difficulty reaching out and making connections to other people is at least partly to blame for the problem.

In similar research carried out last year in Australia by Movember, 70 per cent of respondents said they didn't reach out to others because they figured that problems are just part of life and something they had to suck up. "I never remember talking about feelings with my father or my brothers," said one male participant, commenting on why he was reluctant to talk about emotions with his mates. The Australian research found that one quarter - or 1.1 million - of men aged between 30 and 65 have few or no social connections, while about one third were unsatisfied with the quality of their relationships. The two main reasons for this were that they didn't feel as if their mates could help them with problems they were facing, so they didn't bother bringing them up (79 per cent) and that they didn't feel emotionally supported (76 per cent). "One of the things we see is that men are out of the habit of striking up new friendships," Sarah Coghlan, director for Movember UK, told The Telegraph, London.

"Women are quite comfortable with striking up a new friendship and saying 'Hi, do you want to go for a glass of wine after work or even see a film next Tuesday'. "For men that's just not socially acceptable in the same way. "We have to find innovative means that are out there, how do we get men to reconnect with each other?" Research this year revealed that men's mental and physical health benefit from marriage, more than women. A separate study, however, showed how much men still need their mates. The researchers found that male bonding is more likely to lower a man's stress levels than a night out with his partner, or time spent with the family.

"I think it is just about balance, like all things in health, but the interesting thing about asking that question here is having that male lens, the way men approach these things is different from the way women do," Ms Coghlan said. "If you look at the modern world most families are two working parents, that puts a lot of pressure on men, they don't have the same time in their lives." The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier, longer lives. Lifeline 131 114 beyondblue 1300 224 636

MensLine 1300 789 978



