Confessions of a Grieving Man

The book tells of lived experiences leading up to and after a young man's suicide explaining in detail, from a male's perspective, what the experiences feel like and what it's like living after losing a son to suicide (Chapters Two and Three). Secondly, it tells the stories of other men who have killed themselves and it explores what it is about men that makes them so very prone to suicide (Chapters Four and Five). Thirdly, it explains why our mental health system doesn't work and adds some thoughts to the debate about how we might take practical steps to help stop men from killing themselves (Chapters Six and Seven).
One of the book's themes is that men expect too much of each other and themselves. We are fragile in ways we don't admit and we have a powerful need to be accepted and for our efforts to be respected. It explains the author's regrets and mistakes from a father's point of view.
The book suggests that active strategies are required to save suicidal men. Treating men who are really thinking about killing themselves needs a special someone who knows how to reach out and find them. A suicidal man is not a candidate for self-help.
Another theme is how to understand men and look out for them. They don't ever tell anyone what they are really thinking especially when they are troubled. When troubled, particularly if they feel rejected, they tend to hide. For big problems men have well-worn evolutionary pathways that lead to violence. They are prone to sudden decisions and shouldn't be left alone to mull on their problems. Again, this is particularly the case if they have suffered a blow to their status. They have a limited emotional tool box and they can react very badly. With no outlet for their feelings of rejection and loss, no target for violent reaction, they can become victims, killing themselves to feel vindicated.
Finally, the book talks about improving mental health treatment, particularly in-patient hospital treatment, along with the need to reach into the psychology of men and be bold if it is going to save men who are really at risk.

Dettagli