Of the studies included in the systematic review,
most (17/25) found a higher suicide risk for men
than for women in the context of either divorce or
separation (individual-level studies) or rising rates of
these in the population (for ecological studies). It is
important to note, however, that 12/25 studies
found either no gender differential or a higher risk
for women, so there can be no decisive conclusion
here. Taking the dominant finding of higher risk for
men, the paper included some discussion of possible
reasons for this, focusing in particular on the
contribution of the wider social science literature to
understanding this gender differential. Some
psychosocial issues were highlighted which could
potentially inform the development of interventions
to prevent suicide in the context of relationship
breakdown. The issues of particular relevance to
prevention would seem to be men’s role inflexibility,
the increasing importance of the care of children,
men’s desire for control in relationships and men’s
social networks; possible interventions related to
these issues are suggested below.
One clear implication of the evidence that
relationship breakdown is associated with
heightened suicide risk is that, when working with
men and women already identified as at risk of
suicide, practitioners need to be alert to the
possibility that relationship breakdown can be a
trigger to suicidal acts. There are also possible
implications for a more population-based public
health approach. One idea would be the promotion
and greater free provision of services, such as
relationship counselling and mediation, which
mitigate the most damaging aspects of relationship
breakdown. Some relationships could be maintained
with help from a counsellor or mediator. There are
others which inevitably will come to an end, but that
ending could be eased with a third-party mediator to
help negotiate the process. This can be especially
helpful when there are disputes over the care of
children.
There is also room for social and educational
programmes which encourage critical reflection on
gender role socialisation (see Featherstone, Rivett
and Scourfield, 2007). There is a particular
opportunity to develop these for young people, in
schools, colleges and youth clubs. An emphasis on
encouraging boys and men to disclose distress to
friends and family is one aspect which could help
protect against suicidality. Another, more specific to
men and to relationship breakdown, is an emphasis
in interventions on questioning the need for control
in intimate relationships