Along with the unsettling findings on the depression threshold, one in three participants admitted to having thoughts of suicide or self-harm at least occasionally each week, and 55% expressed loneliness, a significant risk factor for suicide.
Read more: Ontario psychiatrists call for better prevention for youth suicide
“It’s time to take the issue of male suicide out of the shadows and into the spotlight,” said Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, founder of HeadsUpGuys, and Professor of Psychiatry at UBC and Director of the UBC Psychotherapy Program. “This is a serious public health crisis – we need to talk about it and start taking action. The findings of this survey reveal shockingly high levels of suicidal ideation by men in the workplace.”
Almost a quarter of respondents in the study reported that they were going through unbearable psychological suffering and could feel themselves breaking down.
The report suggested some key strategies for employers to adopt for their employees’ mental health in the workplace – which can be applied to all employees, not just men – including:
