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Lucille Reed

English Composition 1201

Professor Loudermilk

24 March 2020

It’s About Time

I remember my freshman year of high school like it was yesterday: the hectic days filled

with homework, laughing with my friends at lunch, and late nights before exams. Amidst these

experiences, one memory stands out from the rest. It all started at lunch on a chilly December

day full of whispers. Rumors reached my ears that something terrible had happened to one of my

brother’s friends. The second I heard, I texted my brother, “Is Will okay?”

Minutes later, he responded, “text mom.”

Soon after, I found out that Will, my brother’s steadfast friend since preschool, had

attempted suicide by shooting himself in the head. The surrealism of the situation still strikes me

years later. Since then, it seems as if every suicide I hear about in my little Ohio town is an

electric shock. I recalled that two years prior to Will’s attempt, another boy from my high school

had committed suicide. The boy’s sister was in my brother’s class. In 2019, another childhood

acquaintance of my brother killed himself. He had just graduated from our high school and was

about to leave for college. The deaths of these boys are not just small-town tragedies: they are

part of an epidemic. Rates of suicide for teen boys and young men have been skyrocketing in the

United States for quite some time now. The question that echoes in discussions amongst the

friends and family left behind is always “why?” Why would they choose suicide as a solution to

their temporary problems when they live very good lives? Based on numbers alone, it would

appear that women should have the higher rate for suicide, as they have the higher rate for
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suicide ideation and attempts. However, men have the higher rates for actual deaths by suicide

(Schumacher). This is defined as the “gender paradox.” The steep number of young men and

teen boys committing suicide can be accredited to the methods that males use to attempt suicide,

the high impact that suicide-causing factors have on them, and the cultural stigma against men

with complex emotions.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides suicide data beginning in

2000. For background, 43, 344 U.S. citizens committed suicide and died because of it in 2018,

and men were 3.56 times more likely to commit suicide than women (“Suicide Statistics”). The

number of women who died is significantly less than the number of men, although that number is

not nonexistent. It should be taken just as seriously as the number of men who died. When

observing the ages of the number of people who died in 2018, the largest age group has been the

55-64-year olds. They had a dramatic rise in rates since 2000, going from 12.06 per 100,000 to

20.2 per 100,000. Despite this high statistic, another concerning statistic is the encroaching

number of 15-24-year olds committing suicide. In 2000, the rate was 10.4 per 100,000. It has

risen to 14.45 per 100,000 in 2018 (“Suicide Statistics”). Though this was considerably lower

than the rate for adults, the increase is a progressing threat. The American people are obviously

not happy, since thousands of them are dying each year on their own decision. The high number

of deaths is not the only concern, as the true impact of the data goes beyond the numbers. With

America’s youth unhappy and hopeless, more and more teens are falling victim to suicide each

year.

To assess why there has been an increase in boys and young men committing suicide, one

must try to understand the teens’ thought process when they begin to feel like suicide is the only

option left. Experts have weighed in to hypothesize why this occurrence happens. Max Kutner
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references words from Richard Lieberman of the Los Angeles County Office of Education,

writing, “‘These risk factors line up like lights on the street,’ says Richard Lieberman, a mental

health consultant for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. ‘For a kid to go from thinking

about suicide to attempting suicide, all these lights have to turn green’” (Kutner). A teen’s life

can become stressful and full of less than ideal circumstances, and one major event could finally

push them over the edge. This gives speculators an insightful look at what prompts teen boys to

commit suicide.

Studies indicate that more women are diagnosed with depression and admit to having

suicidal thoughts, but men are dying of suicide more than they are. This is not to say that hardly

any women commit suicide, but there is a distinctive difference in the numbers. An explanation

for this occurrence is that men use more deadly methods to commit suicide than women do.

Firearms have been the most used weapon for suicide for several years. The American

Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that in 2018, approximately half of deaths by suicide

were committed by using a gun (“Suicide Statistics”). Even the debate over the right to bear arms

comes in to play when discussing firearms in relation to suicide. John Gramlich shares data from

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, commonly known as the CDC, in “What the

data says about gun deaths in the U.S.” Gramlich states that of the 39, 773 gun-related deaths in

America in 2017, sixty percent were suicides. This means that in 2017, about 23, 854 people died

by firearm-related suicide, nearly half of all the suicides that year (Gramlich). These figures are

intriguing, if not disturbing.

Suffocation is generally second to firearm use in terms of suicide methods in America

(“Suicide”). The National Institute of Mental Health records that in 2017, the total number for

suffocation suicides was about half as many as total firearm suicides. After suffocation,
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poisoning fulfills a high percentage in causation for suicide death. Poisoning includes drug

overdose suicides. Even more alarming than these statistics is the fact that the female

percentages of suffocation and poisoning together (62.6%) are only slightly greater than the male

percentage of firearm suicide alone (56.0%). Obviously, men are using firearms as a suicide

strategy a lot more than women are, which is a consistently upheld statistic according to past

years of research.

Part of this could have to do with the accessibility of firearms for men compared to

women. In “Why more men than women die by suicide,” Helene Schumacher brings up a good

point about the statistics of gun owners in the U.S. Apparently, six out of every ten owners of

guns are men, and with guns accounting for around half of suicide deaths, the correlation cannot

be ignored (Schumacher). This explains why suicide attempts do not always directly correspond

with suicide deaths when comparing male to female numbers. Gun manufacturing has been

rising with demand since about 2004 (“Firearms Commerce in the United States”), so getting

access to one could be achieved easily. The increase in firearm ownership is a contributor to the

recent rise in suicide rates among teen boys. Aside from numbers, men can be considered more

likely to use firearms because of their tendency to lean towards more violent suicide methods.

With all of this information in mind, conclusions can be drawn. Women are thinking about

suicide much more than men do. They must get down, and the notion crosses their mind as they

cry out for a solution. When in the depths of despair, sometimes dying seems to be the only

option to solve the problems going on. However, even when a female carries out the ideation, it

is less probable that she will use an absolutely lethal method. Men, on the other hand, are more

likely to use a method with an extremely high fatality rate, such as firearms.
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Several factors can pressure someone to commit suicide, male and female alike, but some

of these factors could affect men more than women. Teen sexual activity and an increased

probability of alcohol dependence can also impact men in a way that forces them to do

something impulsive. Even technology can gruesomely encourage teens to commit suicide.

Research suggests that depression can be linked to sexual activity in teenagers. A

National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health study found that teens who are sexual active

have a much bigger chance of becoming depressed than those who are abstinent (Rector et al.).

Teens who should be happy and cheerful are feeling This vast difference is too important to be

ignored. The study surveyed 6,500 students from the United States how much, if at all, they felt

depressed in the past week. Following that question, they asked if each student had ever had

sexual intercourse before (Rector et al). Girls who were sexually active were over three times

more likely to be depressed than non-sexually active girls, and the boys were over twice as likely

to be depressed if they were sexually active. Although the girls have the higher chances, the

numbers do not lie: sexual activity can have negative consequences on teens’ mental health, and

this could be counted as a reason for the multitude of suicides of young men. In Robert E.

Rector’s essay on teen sexual activity, he quotes Meg Meeker, a specialist in adolescent

medicine, with, “Teenage sexual activity routinely leads to emotional turmoil and psychological

distress.... [Sexual permissiveness leads] to empty relationships, to feelings of self-contempt and

worthlessness. All, of course, precursors to depression.”

Alcohol dependence is another factor in suicide. Teen drinking has been a problem for

years, but it has slightly lessened since the 70’s. Mary Ellen O’Connell shows a chart in an

article from “Issues in Science and Technology” that indicates a steady decline from 1975 to

2001 in percentage of teens who had drank in the past month (O’Connell). Although the
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prevalence diminished, the problem had not. Most people know that excessive drinking in teens

is likely to lead to alcoholism later in life, but males are even more likely to reach that point.

Figure 1. The graph shows the percentage of 12th graders, from classes of 1975 to 2001, that

admitted to having consumed alcohol in the past year, 30 days, or two weeks (O’Connell).

Schumacher points out in her article that “men are nearly twice as likely as women to

meet criteria for alcohol dependence.” Bearing this in mind, studying the link between

alcoholism and depression is important. Schumacher goes on to remark that “drinking can

deepen depression and increase impulsive behaviors.” Not only does alcoholism make people

depressed, it encourages impulsive decisions, such as self-harm or suicide, making drinking a

dangerous thing for male teens. Their gender can give them a disadvantage when they become

hooked on alcohol. Their minds are young and susceptible to influence, so substance abuse can

become something that pushes them over the edge.

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There can hardly be a discussion about teen suicide without bringing up social media and

new technology. The majority of teens are regular cell phone users. According to Pew Research

Center, “95% of teens now report they have a smartphone or access to one” (Anderson and

Jiang). More shockingly, 45% of kids in their teens admit they are involved with the internet at

almost all times (Anderson and Jiang). Although social media has its benefits, such as staying

connected with friends and expanding global views, it can have some unsavory effects on teens’

mental health. Self-esteem can be negatively impacted when social media becomes so

intertwined with a teen’s life that they begin to make it their reality. Online bullying is a threat to

many young people that put themselves on the Internet. Jacob Grandstaff discusses a study done

by the San Diego State University and Florida State University in his article “Excessive Screen

Time Contributes to Suicide-Related Outcomes in Teens,” where results conclude “that teens

who spend five or more hours per day on electronic devices (versus one hour) run a 66 percent

higher risk of having ‘at least one suicide-related outcome.’” The theoretical increase in deaths

from this suicide factor would correspond with the recent rise in suicides, so it must be taken into

account. The only inconsistency with this data in relation to suicides of teen boys and young men

is that the results of the study highlight female as the group more negatively affected by social

media. Grandstaff shares data from the studies. Females had a whopping 58% increase in

depression indicators, and their suicide rate rose by a jarring 65%. It appears that while social

media affects the overall number of suicide deaths, the way it effects each demographic is

unalike.

Despite the gender difference with social media effects, the constant connection to others

may impact male teens in a way that is less about self-image. Suicide clusters, as defined by Max

Kutner in an article in Newsweek, occur when “an unusually high number of people in an area
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kill themselves (or attempt to) in a short period of time” (Kutner). These clusters can happen

when potential victims catch wind of another victim’s suicide. Extensive coverage of the suicide

on news platforms and social media sites carries the word throughout the general area of the

suicide. While it is good to discuss suicide in a healthy, safe way, glorification of the suicide

victim can be counterproductive in ending the suicide crisis. Kutner quotes Dr. Christine Moutier

of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, saying, “the message seems to be that if you

kill yourself, you’ll not only end your suffering but also become the most popular kid in school”

(Kutner). School systems are commonly subjected to suicide clusters, but they can often be hard

to detect due to family privacy wishes (Kutner). Males might be influenced by the increased

connectivity that can unintentionally praise the terrible occurrence of suicide.

Overall, a combination of these bad habits can cause male teens, and even young adult

men, to commit suicide. Underage drinking, teen sexual activity, and overuse of electronic

devices are directly linked to depression and suicide, making them instigators for unfortunate

outcomes.

For ages, men have been viewed as unemotional, level-headed, and complacent structures

in the community. However, under the surface, they are just as emotionally aware as women. A

long-lasting tradition of ignorance towards this fact has created an intercultural standard that

recognizing emotions is a weakness. This stereotype could be detrimental to the mental health of

thousands of men around the world.

There is no doubt that life is stressful. From school to extracurricular activities to social

life, everyone has a lot to handle. The deciding factor for someone’s wellbeing can sometimes be

how this stress is handled. The stress of modern-day life may take a higher toll on men in

general, especially if they are unwilling to discuss how they feel with an adult or even a trained
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professional. A big contributor to the stigma is the popularly taught mantra, “Boys don’t cry.”

Helene Schumacher quotes Colman O’Driscoll, saying, “We condition boys from a very young

age to not express emotion, because to express emotion is to be weak” (Schumacher). It is true

that boys are told not be wishy washy more than girls typically are, so some of this could come

in to play with mental health. If a boy is going through difficult times and is too afraid to confide

in someone, fearing ridicule and scolding, his feelings may get the better of him.

Another aspect of this topic includes suicides of those struggling with sexual orientation.

Letitia L. Star discusses how risk factors can arise when a teen comes out as gay or battles with

others’ backlash about their sexual identity. This is an element that adds to the likelihood of a

gay teen committing suicide, and these teens are can be up to three times as likely to commit

suicide than homosexual teens (Star). Star explains that being gay itself is not the risk factor, but

bullying, teasing, and harassment from the community around the teen is a much more dangerous

threat. Rejection of the teen from their family or religion can further dishearten these teens,

especially when it is happening at the height of their development. This is no small issue. If the

goal is to take down suicide and provide happiness for America’s youth, those with different

sexual orientations are the group to reach out to. This group is nearly four times as likely to make

a suicide attempt as heterosexual individuals (Star). This side of suicide in teens can be

contributing to the high number of suicidal victims that are young men.

Some will argue that discussing emotions and dealing with mental illness is weak and a

waste of time. Some will even go so far over the line as to suggest that women are the weaker

sex for being more open to their feelings than men. One offender is Alfred Lubrano, a writer for

the Philadelphia Inquirer. In a 2004 broadcast with Brian Naylor of National Public Radio,

Lubrano rants about being pestered into sharing his feelings by his wife and, based off of
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research done by the University of Missouri, declares that it is fine to never address emotions if

you are a man. He stresses that being “manly” and denying sentiment as a whole will make

anyone more powerful than the cowards that show soft-heartedness. He even suggests that “We

are manly American men, darn it all, and being manly, science now says, will not hurt us--that is,

unless women do” (“Era of the manly man returns”). However, men are being hurt, and they are

being hurt by themselves. In the year 2004, the year of the broadcast, the suicide rate for men

was 18.1 per 100,000. In 2017, the suicide rate for men had increased to 22.4 per 100,000

(“Suicide Statistics”). The jump could have been caused by toxic ideas of masculinity, or it may

have been caused by something else, but regardless, there is an issue that is being swept under

the carpet.

Will did not die on that awful day in December. When the first responder asked who had

shot him, Will answered, “I did.” By some miracle or act of God, the bullet travelled around his

brain, down his neck, and lodged itself behind his heart. He was even conscious when the

ambulance came.

However, his happy ending is yet to come. Since his recovery, he has dipped in and out

of his friend group and has had trouble in school. My brother and his friends tried their best to

help Will readjust after the horrible events that occurred, but to no avail. Not all hope is lost,

though. Mental health care is more available than ever, and my community can only hope that

Will might be inclined to reach out for help. He has an incredible story of survival and hope, it is

just a matter of whether or not he will speak his truth. Thousands of people die of suicide in the

U.S. each year, and men are three times more likely to become a part of that statistic than women

are. Whether it be the grave determination that men have to carry out the act of suicide, or the

intense effects that suicidal factors have on men, or even the social frowning-upon of men being
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emotional, there is a crisis that must be addressed. Suicide is a delicate subject today, but the

world can no longer turn its face away from the unpleasant details. It’s about time for discussion,

lamentation, and action. There is hope for future generations of teens, and there is just as much

optimism for today’s young people. With the right intentions and lots of compassion, suicide in

America’s youth can be healed.

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Works Cited

Anderson, Monica and Jingjing Jiang. “Teens, Social Media, & Technology 2018.” Pew

Research Center, Pew Research Center, 31 May 2018,

www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/.

Accessed 24 March 2020.

“Era of the manly man returns.” Weekend Edition Sunday, 11 July 2004. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints, link-gale-

com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/A162007449/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=7

aae91df. Accessed 31 Mar. 2020.

“Firearms Commerce in the United States: Annual Statistical Update 2019.” United States

Department of Justice: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 2019,

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/2019-firearms-commerce-report/download.

Accessed 24 March 2020.

Gramlich, John. “What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, Pew

Research Center, 16 August 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-

tank/2019/08/16/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/. Accessed 24 March

2020.

Grandstaff, Jacob. "Excessive Screen Time Contributes to Suicide-Related Outcomes in

Teens." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2020. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints, link-gale-

com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/AVMCWT471532885/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVI

C&xid=132e6807. Accessed 30 Mar. 2020. Originally published as "iGeneration teens

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facing deadly consequences for overuse of electronic media," Washington Examiner, 8

Dec. 2017.

Horowitz, Juliana Menasce. “How male and female gun owners in the U.S. compare.” Pew

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March 2020.

Horsely, Scott. “Guns in America, By the Numbers.” National Public Radio, National Public

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the-numbers. Accessed 24 March 2020.

Kutner, Max. "Teen Suicide Is Contagious, and the Problem May Be Worse Than We Thought;

More than two dozen kids in and around Colorado Springs, Colorado, have killed

themselves in less than two years. The main reason: Another kid did it first." Newsweek,

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