Men who have recently gone through a breakup are seven times more likely to report a suicide attempt than those who have not, a new study shows. Source: The Guardian.
The Ten to Men project has followed more than 20,000 Australian men and identified the mental health risks in relationship breakdowns, which can include changes in their contact with their children, in their finances and in their support network.
The project, run by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, looked at men’s suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts.
It found that those who had had a relationship breakdown in the past year (2024-25) were more than twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts in the two weeks before being surveyed compared with those who had not. Almost one in three (30.8 per cent) reported such thoughts, compared to 14.4 per cent.
The statistics on suicide attempts were even more stark, with men about seven times as likely to report an attempt after a breakup than during a relationship or while already single.
Of the men surveyed, 6.8 per cent reported a suicide attempt in the wake of a breakup, compared with 0.9 per cent who were not dealing with a recent relationship breakdown.
That heightened risk continues for years after the breakup and the association remains even after accounting for age, income, employment, social support and prior suicidal thoughts.
AIFS Ten to Men longitudinal head, Dr Sean Martin, said some men were distressed soon after separation, while others coped initially but struggled over time, highlighting the importance of follow-ups in the aftermath, and for years after that.
Fathers were particularly affected: about 14.4 per cent of fathers surveyed made suicidal plans after relationship breakdowns, compared with 2.9 per cent of those who had not split up with their partners.
There was also a large gap for current or serving Australian Defence Force personnel. About 12.8 per cent surveyed had attempted suicide after a relationship breakdown, compared with 0.8 per cent who hadn’t had one.
Overall, men account for three in four of all deaths by suicide. It is the leading cause of death for men aged 15 to 44, and the third-highest for men aged 45 to 64.
Ten to Men is the world’s largest longitudinal study on men’s health.
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Recently single Australian men are seven times more likely to report a suicide attempt, study shows (By Tory Shepherd, The Guardian)
National FREE 24/7 Crisis Services: • Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au • Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au • Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au • MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78 www.mensline.org.au • Beyond Blue Support Service 1300 22 4636
