In South Africa, men comprise almost 80% of all recorded suicides in the country – the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 29 – with the alarming statistics prompting the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) to officially declare the situation a national crisis, reports The Citizen.
The national suicide rate is 23 per 100 000 people, according to a formal parliamentary response provided by the Minister to MP Vuyo Zungula, leader of the ATM party, who sought clarity on the rising death toll among young men over the past five years.
The department noted that specific provincial breakdowns were still being finalised by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), but added that the available data were cause for concern.
Catalysts that disproportionately push young men toward a mental health breaking point include economic despair, social trauma, and the ill effects of gender-based violence, with Sindisiwe Chikunga, DWYPD Minister, noting that social expectation and ingrained cultural pressures prevent men from asking for help.
“Mental health is not a weakness. Seeking help is not a sign of failure. We need to create safe spaces where men and boys can speak openly, heal, and access support without fear of judgment,” she said, adding that the government, alone, can’t solve the problem and calling for “a multisectoral approach involving families, schools, faith-based organisations, and youth formations to create safe environments”.
The post-festive ‘boiling point’
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) released a critical mental health alert earlier this year, noting a sharp spike in distress among men after the festive season.
It found that 70% of respondents in its latest survey reported extreme financial anxiety, a primary driver of suicidal ideation.
“In South Africa, men are experiencing a critical suicide crisis, with fatal suicide rates four to five times higher than those of women,” it said.
“Social stigma, emotional repression, and societal expectations are creating significant barriers to seeking help.”
Challenging masculinity norms
The South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) has focused its 2026 efforts on the “lethal silence” surrounding traditional masculinity, arguing that men are essentially being socialised into silence, making them significantly less likely to use existing support structures.
Leon de Beer, deputy director of SAFMH, said societal pressures were reaching a breaking point, with the organisation calling for gender-sensitive mental health services that acknowledge the specific ways men experience depression, which often manifests as anger or withdrawal rather than sadness.
Budget failure
Prominent advocacy groups, including SECTION27 and Life Esidimeni family representatives, have used the recent 2026 judicial developments to highlight the broader failure of the state to protect mental health users. They said that despite the government “acknowledging” the crisis, the 2026 budget still reflects massive shortfalls in community-based mental health clinics.
They’re also calling for more counsellors in rural areas where the gatekeepers of traditional norms are strongest.
The Citizen article – Men account for 80% of suicides as national crisis deepens (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Suicide rates rise among over-50 South Africans
High suicide intention rate among students – SA study
SA has higher suicide mortality that most of Africa – IRR