Why do so many more men than women commit suicide?

Question

Women make 3 times more attempts but men commit ~3 times more suicides. More specifically why do men rather than men and women tend to choose "assured" ways to die?

I doubt women think things through. They make more attempts as if thinking even less about potential possibilities.

The beautiful corpse comment is appreciated. I'd never considered that.

Does anyone have a link to international data on gender and method of suicide?

Thanks perfectl... I'd considered this in the past but neglected the conclusion when asking this question.

I can't imagine why a man would choose a firearm over a prescription overdose unless women have more psychiatric or painkilling medications available to them.

I'm leaving the vote for this question up to the community. Thanks for you responses. I'm not qualified to choose the "best answer".

Answer 1

Not only do men choose "assured" ways to die, they often choose the messier ways to go - gunshot, etc. -while women tend to go for "cleaner" ways - pills, etc.
Perhaps because women have more sympathy for those who have to clean up the mess? And don't want to leave an ugly corpse?

Answer 2

There is a very simple reason for this, it's not complicated at all!! When men attempt to commit suicide they choose more lethal means so that it turns from a attempt to a suicide. Whereas women choose ways that one can be better revived from. Most women attempt suicide by taking an over dose of some kind of medication, more likely to be found and revived, before it becomes fatal. Whereas men choose to use guns and more dangerous means such as hanging. Men choose these means because they are men!!! Men are taught to make sure that what ever they do they have to be more successful at it. Usually this pertains to their families and jobs but they carry it over to suicide attempts also. Men also find it very hard to ask for help and if they don't succed at the attempt than they have to admit that there's a problem that they can't take care of.

Answer 3

Men are taught from an early age to not show their emotions. They are taught that they must be strong, that they are supposed to be the bread winner etc etc. Woman are allowed to show their emotions more openly.

With men when it gets to the point where they actually commit suicide. They have thought the entire process through. They are committed to completing the act. They usually use a gun or a method that will ensure death.

With woman it is usually a spur of the moment thing. They are not as committed to the actual act. They may be seeking attention, or they may be crying out for help. They use less fatal ways, overdose, slit wrists etc. They leave themselves an out just incase.

Answer 4

Women are not more emotional than men. That is a stereotype. All humans have feelings it's just men are told to suck it up and hold it in. They are brought up believe showing emotion is a weakness which it isn't. Expressing feelings is often difficult for men. So women are more likely to be offered help. Women are more likely to attempt suicide but men are more likely to succeed in doing it. Men use more effective methods such using a gun. Women tend to use less effective methods like trying to overdose on their medication. I think the main reason is men feel ashamed to ask for help with suicidal thoughts.

Answer 5

It can only be that women's commitment to kill themselves are less. The commitment fades, once the initial blood rushes out the wrists, or once the first couple of tablets are swallowed. The reason why the commitment fades is because they are less focused than men - the 'women are gatherers men are hunters' theories. Men focus on finishing a single given task, whereas the female brain is more interconnected with other emotions. This makes it all-and-all more difficult for a women to commit suicide than a man.

Answer 6

So many more men commit suicide because of many things,

Once you are over 28-29, you better be in the job you plan to keep forever.
After a certain age, most men, especially caucasian men, are pretty much invisible to employers. Too close to retirement, affirmative action, younger people who are percieved more eager, all equal = no job, poverty for most middle aged men.
Decline in health, constant aches and pains, no insurance, no dental, no vision, homeless, looks are shot, fat, bald, unable to get it up, blanketed in debt, no way out out... suicide.

Many men take their own lives after the death of a spouse.

There is no such thing as retirement anymore in this country.
You will work till the day you die.
A lot of older people who payed into the system all their lives will get nothing from it.
Once again, despair and hopelessness fall into place.

Scary thought.

Answer 7

The women that try to commit suicide and fail choose methods that have more chances of failure because they are really just trying to get someone to notice their problems and sympathize.

Men go this route less often because men do not like to appear weak, incapable, etc. So if they want to die they blast themselves in the face to make sure it is done. Because if we fail at killing ourselves what does they say about our abilities in the bedroom? putting together an ikea kitchen cabinet? we'd rather die then look like tim the toolman.

Answer 8

Maybe because women like to use it as a gesture more often, without intent of death...

As well, all societies around the world require that men approach women, and all women have to do to cure their lonliness is make themselves look pretty.

A guy has to work on his personality and way of talking, and also has to have looks.

I think more men kill themselves than women because there are a lot more lonely men out there than women, and a lot of men get more than one woman, leaving another man without even one.

Humanity has been its own worst enemy.

Answer 9

Women

Answer 10

Women talk more about their problems. The statistics to which you refer relate to white men in the US - and mostly using firearms. The same is not true in Afghanistan, for example.