Research points to gender differences in suicide prevention strategies

A recent one study shows clear differences between the sexes: for girls with suicidal thoughts, a close-knit family is important, while activities such as sports, leisure or other hobbies offer good protection, especially for boys.

More than 600 people in Norway take their own lives every year. This sad statistic has remained stable for decades. Two in three people who commit suicide are men, and the number of suicides in Norway increased last year.

“We all need to put down roots and have a sense of belonging. The antidote to loneliness is to be part of something and have a place to be yourself,” says Victoria Bakken, PhD candidate. candidate at NTNU.

She recently published her first findings on the factors that can help prevent young people from committing suicide. What helps boys is not necessarily the same as what helps girls.

The research shows that there are clear differences between the genders:

• For girls with suicidal thoughts or who have attempted suicide, secure attachment to parents and good family dynamics provide particularly good protection.
• For boys with suicidal thoughts or who have attempted suicide, activities such as sports, leisure or other hobbies offer particularly good protection.

A different approach is needed for boys

“For girls it is important to be able to seek support from their parents because it is important to have someone to talk to. For boys it is much more difficult to talk about suicidal thoughts.

“Many boys say they don’t want to bother or worry their loved ones. This prevents them from talking to someone about their problems. We need to take different approaches when it comes to boys,” says Bakken.

Many of her sources described their adolescence as a black hole, but a change of scenery made them see life and the future in a clearer light. She believes that early suicide prevention is very important because it has a long-term effect.

“The things that protect you in adolescence can continue to protect you as an adult,” says Bakken.

In her doctoral work, she used data showing that almost 2,500 young Norwegians were followed for 26 years. The people involved were about fifteen years old when they first answered a questionnaire.

In addition to analyzing data from the extensive questionnaire, Bakken conducted in-depth interviews with fifteen of the young people, who are now adults.

In the interviews, she listened to their reflections and perspectives on difficult times in their lives, and what actually helped them as they struggled with suicidal thoughts and attempts during adolescence.

A change of scenery can help

One clear finding is that a change of scenery can be especially important for people who struggle with dark thoughts.

“It helps to get away from a bad environment and possibly change schools,” Bakken says.

Many of her sources described their adolescence as a black hole, but a change of scenery made them see life and the future in a clearer light.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean changing schools. It may not be that easy for everyone, but seeking out new activities, interests, or anything else that can represent a change of scenery can have a significant impact. It’s important for both boys and girls to find something they enjoy doing, preferably together with others,” says Bakken.

She believes it is fundamental to see the context surrounding a person with suicidal thoughts.

“Research shows that about half of people who commit suicide had mental health conditions that were known to those around them, but that also means that half did not. There may not necessarily be anything wrong with the person themselves, but things like constant bullying can lead to these types of tragic events,” says Bakken.

She believes that today’s youth are mentally stronger than many public voices would have us believe.

Understanding common struggles

“I think today’s young people are very strong because they manage to cope with being exposed to so much body pressure, war and mental health issues 24 hours a day through social media. In between the make-up videos on TikTok, brutal war videos can suddenly appear. Bullying is also constant on digital platforms,” says Bakken.

While Bakken believes many young people are mentally strong, she also thinks many are not given enough information about what is normal to struggle with.

“During certain times in life it is normal to have existential thoughts about life and death, but that does not necessarily mean you are mentally ill. Feeling stressed and having dark thoughts is normal, it does not mean you have anxiety or are afraid .depressed.

We need to increase our understanding of what types of thoughts and feelings are considered normal. Young people must be given the opportunity to learn this somewhere,” says Bakken

The researcher concludes with the statement that suicide prevention is a social responsibility, in which individuals or small groups around a person can also play a significant role.

“We shouldn’t just dig ourselves into a hole, we need to find what really works. If we don’t find out what works, we’ll just have to build higher fences on bridges.”