Men who have recently gone through a relationship breakup, separation or divorce are at much higher risk of suicide than their married peers, an international review of data from over 106 million men has revealed.
The world-first review, led by Orygen Research Fellow Michael Wilson and published today in leading psychology journal Psychological Bulletin, examined 75 studies and found that young, recently separated men were up to eight times more likely to die by suicide than their married peers.
Wilson said this was the first study of its kind to focus on intimate relationship breakdown as a key risk factor in men's suicide, and the results highlighted how critical it was to support men’s healthy adjustment when relationships end.
“We know that every year, over 700,000 lives are lost to suicide, and men die at three times the rate of women,” Wilson said.
“Suicide is also the leading cause of death amongst young men aged 15-44, so we need to better understand what is driving these tragic statistics, particularly amongst younger men, and intervene early to save lives.
“Recognising the major impact of relationship breakdown is vital for suicide prevention efforts, and it is critical that we better educate young men in how to handle rejection, how to cope with the end of a relationship and where to seek support.”
The study found:
- Divorced men had 2.8 times greater odds of death by suicide than married men.
- Separated men under 34 years of age had eight-fold greater odds of suicide than married men.
- Men's risk of suicidality after a breakup was further heightened by factors such as unemployment, pre-existing mental health conditions and social isolation.
Wilson said that while a vast array of risk factors can lead to suicidal behaviour in men, the risk factors associated with intimate relationship breakdown must be recognised and addressed.
“When relationships break down, this can trigger a cascade of negative psychological and emotional consequences that can lead to psychological distress – and this can also have knock-on effects in terms of financial security, housing and social support.”
Wilson said that while breakups are likely to impact most people in their lifetime, it is particularly important that these issues are recognised as significant risk factors for men's suicide – and young men in particular.
“Targeted support for young men post-breakup can be lifesaving – but this is often complicated by restrictive gender norms, where many men are expected to be self-reliant, stoic and emotionally closed off.
“These ideas can stop men from asking for help when they really need it. Equally, expectations for men to handle things on their own can mean friends and family often struggle to know how best to support men post breakup.”
Wilson said that ultimately, the end of a relationship should never mean the end of a life.
“We know that breakups, in the long term, can be a profound source of growth and positive personal development, so in many ways breakups are an important and necessary part of life.
“What this study shows is the importance of healthy adjustment, coping and recovery from relationship breakdown, to ensure suicide does not interrupt a path of positive development that can often begin with a breakup – and this seems especially important for men,” he said.
More about the research:
- While separated and divorced men each had greater odds of suicide than married men, findings highlight that separated men had nearly two-fold greater odds of suicide than divorced men.
- This highlights that the immediate aftermath of relationship breakdown is a particularly risky period for suicide in men.
- Separated men under 34 years of age had over eight times the odds of suicide than married men of the same age.
- The role of wide-ranging factors including isolation, emotion dysregulation and shame are highlighted in men’s suicidality following relationship breakdown.
- This study highlights a range of implications for suicide prevention, including universal education for young men around handling rejection and healthy coping following breakups; screening for suicidality in recently separated men navigating relationship services; and support groups for men navigating breakups to combat loneliness.