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Three-quarters of all suicides in Canada are men, on average about once every three hours. The “silent epidemic” has prompted advocates to question whether modern life demands too much from the male sex.

“Male suicide results in 3,000 fatalities a year on average in Canada. Society needs to change, just as much as men do,” Rob Whitley, assistant professor of psychiatry at McGill University, told a Vancouver audience recently.

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“Guys have always been told that you’re not a real man if you’re complaining. We have to move away from those concepts,” he said.

About 500 people die by suicide in B.C. every year, more than a day. Their average age is 47. About seven per cent of B.C. teenagers say they have attempted suicide in the past year. Help is available 24-7 at 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-784-2433.

Whitley said but the transformation of traditional gender roles may have gone too far because it appears many men can’t cope, especially middle-aged men, who are the most at-risk group.