Male suicide: turning the tide - raising awareness to reduce death by suicide
Download (PDF 1.4 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire carried out a project on male suicide prevention. The aim of the research was to understand the accessibility of suicide prevention services and identify barriers to access or gaps in services.
Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire spoke to 34 men and 3 parents as part of the study. They attended peer support groups where they communicated with 29 respondents. In-depth interviews were carried out with 8 individuals who responded via social media. They also spoke with 20 organisations working in suicide prevention across the city and county.
- Those who accessed services found them helpful for managing their mental health
- Peer support was highly valued in combating feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Men who had no diagnosed mental health condition or long-term illness were more likely to ‘fall through the net’
- There was little knowledge amongst participants of what help was available to them
- Some were reluctant to access formal services and didn’t want to be seen as a ‘patient’ receiving counselling or psychiatric care
The report contains thirteen recommendations.