70% of the suicides in this country are committed by middle-aged men. I was stunned by that percentage. But I also know from basic psychology that men tend not to ask for help, suffer silently, and then, if they are prone to do something drastic, take real, as opposed to attention-seeking, action.
In the last few months, I have had several wives call Career Counseling Connecticut on behalf of their husbands. The stories are reasonably similar. Their once vibrant husbands had become cantankerous and tired during the first few years of a demanding job and now were adding on anxious and depressed. The last adjective prompted the call and they all noted that they should have called years ago. The tougher calls come from wives whoses
In some of my recent Career Counseling Connecticut meetings with men in this situation, I see men who mask their anxiety with dark humor – “my family would be better off if they get my life insurance”- seems to be the most common line. The worry today for most forty and fiftysomethings is that they will never get hired again.
If you know anyone who might be prone to depression due to a work lay off, pay careful attention. Get them the help they need.