However, in talking to men from this demographic
group, through discussions with experts2 and from
our own experience of suicide prevention and
delivering our helpline, Samaritans began to ask
some critical questions: Why are men in their midyears
in low socio-economic position more
vulnerable to suicide than other sociodemographic
groups? How is this group of men
served by suicide prevention-related policy and
practice? How effective are the messages
commonly given to men by Samaritans and other
suicide prevention organisations to ‘seek help’ and
‘talk about your feelings’? Do men respond
positively to these messages? Do they know how
to ‘talk about their feelings’? Does ‘talking’ help
them? In order to provide some answers to these
key questions, Samaritans initiated this report. considered.