Suicide and fragile white male identity

Purpose Data from the Office for National Statistics identifies a particularly high risk of suicide amongst middle-aged White men in the United Kingdom (UK). The causal factors for this high-risk group of middle age white men are poorly understood. The aim of this paper was examine why there is such a high rate of suicide among white middle aged men in the UK. Design/methodology/approach Narrative approach analysing policy, research and scholarly literature on suicide and white male identity. Practice initiatives are presented as two case studies that describe how male identity and suicide prevention have been considered in two different organisations. Findings A conceptual analysis deconstructs the question of suicide and white male identity and finds that essentialist and hegemonic subjectivities in the context of psychocentric approaches to suicide implicate White male narratives stigmatised as toxic. Hegemonic masculinity as a signifier is found to be different to White masculinity and White culture. It is argued that future research needs to consider the challenge of understanding how middle-aged White men in the UK, who are vulnerable to suicide, can be supported in developing life enhancing identities that will prevent suicide. Originality/value This paper sets out a unique and sustained interrogation of suicide among white males in the UK.