Authors of a new study are urging schools to help end the stigmatisation around mental illness and encourage young men to seek help for emotional problems, in an effort to curb the soaring rate of suicide.The topic of mental health ought to be included in the school curriculum "as early as possible" according to the report's authors Shane Burke and Dr Patrick McKeon in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine.
"Teachers, parents and policymakers need to place the same emphasis on mental health as they would on physical health.
"It is these groups who will be instrumental in changing the way mental illness is discussed and perceived.
"The message needs to be loud and clear: having mental health problems is nothing to be ashamed of," they said.
Research has found that 75 per cent of men had not accessed a health service in the month prior to their suicides.
"Males tend to deal with emotional problems by themselves, often using alcohol. The dangers of alcohol abuse are well documented and there is compelling evidence to suggest it is associated with suicide."
They point out that while there is little difference between the emotions men and women experience, boys are required to restrict their vulnerable and caring emotions from a young age.
Men view depression as a threat to their masculinity, so they don’t always look for the help they need, the authors claim.
"When males do access psychiatric services, it is often through means which do not compromise their masculine self-concept, such as suicide attempts and panic attacks.”
Despite huge social changes in Ireland in the last 20 years, the report concluded that there is no evidence to suggest that men have become more expressive or more willing to discuss emotional problems.
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