Men’s mental health struggles often go unrecognized or undiagnosed, and due to widespread stigma and misunderstanding surrounding suicide, deaths by suicide may be incorrectly or mistakenly listed as ‘deaths by unintentional injuries.
 
As a result, many statistics below are likely to be under-estimations of the real toll that suicide takes on men, their families, and their communities.
 
Aspirus Health has partnered with the Tri-County Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coalition on a number of community-based initiatives to reach residents and visitors of Oneida, Vilas and Forest Counties. 
 
The latest efforts are focusing on suicide prevention for men ages 45-54 and 85-plus who have shown an increase statistically across the country.  In concert with the Oneida and Vilas County Tavern Leagues, a series of coasters have been produced with information and QR codes as a resource for men who may need support.
 
“We started a similar project in 2019, but it was derailed by the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Heidi Pritzl, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Aspirus Health. “We are excited to relaunch this program which will provide specific information with trackable data to better understand the reach of the campaign and the people who need help.”
 
Nearly 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, nearly twice the number who die by homicide. For every death by suicide, there are approximately 20 suicide attempts made. Each death by suicide leaves behind a community of bereaved family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. For every death by suicide, at least 7 to 10 people are directly affected by the loss. 
 
Research shows that mental illness is the most important risk factor for suicide. More than 90% of people who die by suicide struggle with their mental health and/or addiction. Researchers estimate that up to 60% of people who die by suicide have major depression.