A quarter of young men self-harm to cope with depression, says survey

/ Mike Buchanan

Our thanks to Y for this. He writes:

I didn’t read anywhere in the article about growing up without a father being a possible cause.

If everyone who read this gave us just £1 – or even better, £1 monthly – we could change the world. Click here to make a difference. Thanks.

2 thoughts on “A quarter of young men self-harm to cope with depression, says survey”

  1. I take this report seriously, but on the other hand if it’s endorsed by the Grauniad and the NHS I also consider the possibility that there may be an element of disinformation aimed at claiming issues formerly seen as female are affecting men as well.
    Thereby bringing young men down to the level of girls — ‘Yah Boo’ you’re no better’ sort of thing.

    I make no claims at this stage, just mentioning the possibility that’s all.

    Like

    Reply

    • I too was surprised at this uncharacteristic sympathy for males. I suspect someone will get an editorial “smack” for this. If you think about it its actually not that surprising as its known that males tend to deal with their problems differently than females (first smack there suggesting there are sex differences) so the “self medication” and obsessive physicality is common in what one was “shell shock”. sadly we know a lot about men’s typical “self harming” patterns fro dealing with two WWs and quite a few smaller ones. What is interesting is the use of the term “self harm” for these patterns. I suspect the author will get two editorial “smacks” here. The first for suggesting that this is akin to the suffering of young women, for after all men in mental distress shouldn’t be “excused” for their behaviour because its their fault. The second for suggesting some health service resources could be devoted to young men’s needs when we know all precious resources must be devoted to women and girls.
      So maybe it is a ploy to level some attention to men’s needs by using terminology favoured by the feminist establishment.
      But the truth of the patterns of behaviours as males cast about for “fixes” to their distress in a society mainly deaf to their needs is corroborated by much the same patterns for men right up to 90. One need only think of the homeless or institutionalised males.
      I doubt the Grauniad will let such a little firecracker through again.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment