To combat cancer, we wear ribbons, run marathons, and raise millions. To prevent drunk driving, we set up checkpoints, pull drivers over, and screen them on the side of the road.
But when it comes suicide, what do we do? We ignore it, we don’t talk about it, and too often we pretend it didn’t happen. Suicide is not an easy problem to tackle, but if we want to prevent it and save lives, we need to talk openly and honestly about it.
Suicide is:
- The second leading cause of death among young adults aged 20-30.
- The third leading cause of death in adults under 44 in Canada.
- Men account for three-quarters of all suicides.
- Suicide has the highest rates among males 45 to 59 years.
The shockingly high suicide rate among men is far too often a sad and preventable consequence of men trying to bear the burden of battling depression alone. Unfortunately, a lot of men buy into myths about depression (thinking it’s a sign of personal weakness or that real men don’t ask for help), preventing them from reaching out to others to build the supports necessary to successfully fight depression. Left untreated, depression is one of the major risk factors for suicide. Families and communities that have been affected by suicide know the pain it causes. It’s been estimated that each death by suicide affects upwards of 32 people who are left behind.
Providing men with the tools to reach out.
HeadsUpGuys is a unique online resource that supports men in their fight against depression by providing tips, tools, information about professional services, and stories of recovery from real men. It is the only comprehensive site dedicated to helping men fight depression in Canada and one of very few in the world.
HeadsUpGuys points men toward practical resources and lets them know:
- There is no need to suffer in silence
- Depression can be beaten
- Suicide is preventable
Recognition
- Visited over 850,000 times (over 30,000 visits per month)
- Self Check (a depression screening tool) has been filled out by more than 100,000 men aged 18 and older
- Featured over 70 times by media including CBC, Huffington Post Canada, US, and UK, and The Telegraph.
- Listed as a formal resource by over 60 mental health and related sites including The University of British Columbia, Movember Canada and US, Anxiety and Depression Association of American, and International Suicide Prevention Association.
How you can help:
As a free online resource, HeadsUpGuys depends on the support and generosity of public and private partners, as we work together to improve the health of men in our communities and across the globe.
Because of our partnership with UBC, contributions can be made as tax-deductible donations. If you are interested in supporting our work and helping men to fight depression and prevent suicide, please reach out.
Respectfully yours,
Dr. John Ogrodniczuk
Founder, HeadsUpGuys
Professor & Director, Psychotherapy Program
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
info@headsupguys.org
