If more women than men get depressed, how come most suicides are men?

Answer 1

Women are more likely to be suicidal, but men are more likely to be successful at completing a suicide since they statistically use more lethal means. There are 4 male deaths for each female death by suicide, but 3 female attempts for each male attempts.
From NIMH:
Suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for males and the 19th leading cause of death for females in 2000. More than four times as many men as women die by suicide, although women report attempting suicide during their lifetime about three times as often as men. Suicide by firearm is the most common method for both men and women, accounting for 57 percent of all suicides in 2000. White men accounted for 73 percent of all suicides and 80 percent of all firearm suicides.

Answer 2

When I took Psychology they said that more female suicide attempts fail then men. This was because women attempt to do things that can be stopped more like taking pills or turning the car on in a closed garage. Men do quick and brutal things like shoot themselves and hang themselves. Also I would guess that it has something to do with the fact that women who are depressed are more likely to ask for help and seek treatment.

Answer 3

I'm not a psychologist. However, my best guess would be that men have a tendency to internalize their problems, rather than seek out help and solace. Unfortunately, for a man to open up and express his pain, frustration, loathing, sense of worthlessness, or any profound problem that would lead to suicide; it is seen as a sign on weakness. Therefore, he is deemed less of a man. Which is so far from the truth, a real man can open up and express his thoughts, feelings, and desires without caring about the opinion of others.

Answer 4

most successfully completed suicides are men because they are prone to more violent suicide attempts (aka shooting themselves with a gun). Women attempt suicide alot, but do so in ways that are not as quick acting as a gunshot wound (overdose or some other type of poisoning) that someone finds out and medicine can reverse. It's alot harder to fix a gunshot to the head.

Answer 5

Interesting question. I wonder if there really is a big difference in the percentage of depression between sexes. Maybe women are just more likely to seek help (and get counted as a depression statistic) rather than just offing themselves

Answer 6

Men are more willing to actually do something. Not to say that no women actually do things, but for the most part men have more audacity and want to show off more. They are also more daring in general.

Answer 7

Chances are men are more likely to hide their depression and more likely to avoid talking to anyone who can help. The old "get over it", "pull yourself up by your boot straps" messages can have damaging results. Society's expectations of men, that they be strong at all times, drives some men into isolation when life goes badly. Results..... they seldom get the advice and support needed to confront their emotional issues.

Answer 8

Women are stronger (mentally) than men. Somthing that will drive a man to suicide will be a minor problem to a woman.

Answer 9

Men are more likely to act on their depression. Women act out differentally as well. That's why more women have eating disorders.

Answer 10

Women are more likely to share their feelings. There are probably more depressed men, but they just find it hard to admit their feelings