Silent Struggles That Impact Men’s and Women’s Mental Health

September is Suicide Prevention Month.

Suicide Prevention is close to my heart because I believe that Suicide can be prevented 100%

So I take this opportunity to raise awareness during this month help prevent suicides.

According to my research latest global estimates from the World Health Organization, published in 2025, the global suicide mortality rate in 2021 was 12.3 deaths per 100,000 among men, compared with 5.6 among women.

These stats raise question:

Are we understanding the mental health struggles of men and women differently?

Men are dying by suicide at more than twice the rate of women.

But this statistic should not lead us to believe that women experience less psychological distress.

Suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide deaths are not the same thing. Gender differences can be influenced by many factors, including social expectations, willingness to seek help, access to support, and other circumstances.

Among young people, the concern is equally serious. Suicide was the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29 globally, and remains a major concern among adolescents.

So we need to look beyond the numbers.

What are men carrying in silence?

What are women carrying that may go unnoticed?

And are our families, workplaces and communities creating enough space for people to speak before their struggles become a crisis?

For a special episode this September, I will be joined by A.H. Monjurul Kabir, Ph.D., LL.M., an international human rights lawyer and senior UN leader with more than 23 years of experience in gender equality, human rights, governance, inclusive development and social justice.

Together, we will explore the silent struggles that impact the mental health of men and women, the role of social expectations and stigma, and what greater awareness can mean for suicide prevention.

It is a conversation about people, dignity, vulnerability, and the importance of being heard.

Because sometimes the person who needs support is not the person who asks for it.

This September, let's make it easier to have the conversation.

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abulhasnatmonjurulkabir.academia.edu

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