Absolutely fascinating topic. Evidenced by the range of responses from members of this site. (I doubt the same response could be garnered on any other forum).
I am fortunate in that although I have experienced failure in work and relationships, I have never considered suicide as an option.
Self analysis is a useful tool, but it does need to be placed in context.
The allusion to the depression of the 20s and 30s and increased male suicide is a useful starting point. Go back further in history to the hunter gatherer times. Men accepting responsibility for a wider failure of society for which they were not necessarily to blame.
Survival of the fittest anyone? No such burden has traditionally been placed on women, who could respond to infant mortality by simply having more offspring.
Is it any wonder that men are seething with repressed anger, and afraid to show any signs of weakness. I find it telling that, despite the demonstrably lower suicide rates, a route map for women was devised almost two decades ago, while us mere blokes, continue to hide our feelings, especially anger.
I’m all for getting men to express their true feelings, but shelling out 400 quid to do so will only liberate those who can actually afford it. The military environment is one that probably accentuates the issues raised in the article, so we can only hope that, the mental health premium now being recognized at national level, and will adopt some of these mentoring skills in the treatment of PTSD.
The percentage of ex military in prisons, higher suicide rates and living rough, would indicate that cost is only one issue to be resolved.