O'Donnell, ShaneRichardson, Noel2018-03-232018-03-232018-03O’Donnell, S. and Richardson, N. (2018). Middle-Aged Men and Suicide in Ireland. Dublin: Men’s Health Forum in Irelandhttp://hdl.handle.net/10147/622917Despite these trends, there has been little attention on middle-aged men in public, policy or research discourse. Numerous studies have reported that economic recession and increased rates of unemployment are associated with a decline in mental health and increased rates of suicide and self-harm within a global, European and Irish context. These statistics indicate a clear and urgent need for a specific suicide prevention focus targeting middle-aged men. Suicide prevention is often understood in terms of risk and protective factors. This approach is necessary in order to determine and develop effective suicide prevention strategies and interventions. Gender encompasses socially constructed roles or normative behaviours for males and females. The key factors that are associated with gender and suicide among men are: • Men’s use of more lethal methods. • A reticence to seek help. • Higher rates of alcohol and substance misuse. • Factors specific to ‘high risk’ groupsenSUICIDEMENMIDDLE AGEIRELANDReport