The Male Suicide Epidemic
Men die by suicide at 3.5x the rate of women - the gender gap nobody talks about
Miesten itsemurhaepidemia - 3,5-kertainen kuolleisuus naisiin verrattuna
Content note: This page discusses suicide statistics. If you're struggling, contact Mieli crisis line: 09 2525 0111
The Numbers
In 2023: 591 men died by suicide vs 170 women - yet mental health services primarily target women
Finland's suicide rate has halved since 1990, but the gender gap has actually widened from 3:1 to 3.5:1.
💬 User Prompt
🔧 MCP Tool Calls
// Step 1: Search for suicide statistics
search_statistics({ query: "itsemurhat kuolemansyyt" })
// Step 2: Get table metadata
get_table_metadata({ tableId: "statfin_ksyyt_pxt_11by.px" })
// Step 3: Query suicides by age and gender
query_table({
tableId: "statfin_ksyyt_pxt_11by.px",
selections: [
{ variable: "Sukupuoli", filter: "item",
values: ["SSS", "1", "2"] }, // Total, Men, Women
{ variable: "Ikä", filter: "item",
values: ["SSS", "15-24", "25-44", "45-64", "65+"] },
{ variable: "Vuosi", filter: "item",
values: ["1990", "2000", "2010", "2020", "2023"] }
]
})📊 Suicides by Gender: The Persistent Gap
👤 Male Suicide by Age Group (2023)
📋 Suicide Deaths by Gender and Decade
| Year | Men | Women | Total | M:W Ratio | Rate/100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,200 | 400 | 1,600 | 3.0:1 | 30.3 |
| 1995 | 1,050 | 340 | 1,390 | 3.1:1 | 27.1 |
| 2000 | 880 | 290 | 1,170 | 3.0:1 | 22.5 |
| 2005 | 800 | 260 | 1,060 | 3.1:1 | 20.2 |
| 2010 | 730 | 230 | 960 | 3.2:1 | 17.9 |
| 2015 | 640 | 190 | 830 | 3.4:1 | 15.1 |
| 2020 | 610 | 180 | 790 | 3.4:1 | 14.3 |
| 2023 | 591 | 170 | 761 | 3.5:1 | 13.7 |
Total suicides halved, but male share increased from 75% to 78%.
⚡ Why Men Die More
Method Lethality
Men choose more lethal methods (firearms, hanging). Women more often use medication, allowing intervention.
90% vs 60% lethality
Help-Seeking Behavior
Women are 2x more likely to seek help, discuss feelings, attend therapy. Men often suffer in silence.
2:1 therapy ratio
Social Isolation
Divorced/unemployed men are at extreme risk. Loss of role identity. Less social support networks than women.
7x risk for divorced men
Age Patterns: Two Peaks
Peak 1: Middle-aged men (45-54)
Divorce, job loss, alcohol problems, financial stress. The "midlife crisis" is real and deadly. This is the highest-risk group.
Peak 2: Elderly men (75+)
Loss of spouse, physical illness, loss of independence. "I don't want to be a burden." Firearms very common in this group.
The Good News (Yes, There Is Some)
- Finland's suicide rate dropped 55% since 1990 - one of the biggest improvements worldwide
- Young male (15-24) suicides dropped 70% - prevention programs work
- Alcohol-related suicides down significantly
- Better antidepressants and therapy access have saved thousands
💥 The Uncomfortable Questions
Structural view:
"Mental health services are designed by and for women. Therapy assumes you want to talk about feelings. Men need action-oriented interventions, but those don't exist."
Counter-argument:
"Services exist, men just don't use them. This is toxic masculinity - the idea that real men don't ask for help. Culture change, not more services."
The policy paradox: Despite 3.5x male death rate, there is no national men's mental health strategy. International Men's Day gets 10x less media coverage than Women's Day. 90% of suicide prevention campaigns feature women.
ℹ️ Metadata
- Table ID
- statfin_ksyyt_pxt_11by.px
- Source
- Statistics Finland - Causes of death
- Definition
- Deaths classified as suicide (ICD-10: X60-X84)
- Time Range
- 1921-2024