Young+Blokes+Don't+Cry...But+suffer+in+silence

Student: Serena Sullivan Student Number: 06881084 Tutor: Coleen Niland

= If Only Joe Clark Knew =


 * Link to Full Article:** [|If Only Joe Clark Knew]

** Cultural Artefact ** Joe Clark took his own life on June 29, 2007. He was 21 years old, engaged to be married and was contracted with the Brisbane Broncos. Living the dream of many young men, suicide was a fate that his friends, family and teammates never saw coming. This article encapsulates the complexity and mystery surrounding Joe’s death and unfortunately, that of many young Australian men.

** Public Health Issue ** The public health issue being addressed here is the high prevalence of suicide in Australia amongst young men. It concerns the complex paradigm of social, behavioural and psychological factors. Until a decade ago, Australia witnessed a rise in youth suicide for over 25 years, especially among young men and Indigenous Australians (Bourke, 2003). The most recent data on suicide collected in 2008 shows that young men aged 20 – 24 were particularly vulnerable to suicide with a rate of around 16 suicides per 100, 000 males compared to 5 suicides per 100, 000 females (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). To prevent suicide there is an important link between the detection and treatment of mental illness (Ford, 2005). //The 2007 National Survey of Mental health and Wellbeing// report (Slade et al., 2007. pp 6 - 12) showed that the prevalence of mental illness decreased with age with the highest percentage reported for those aged 16 – 24 at 26.4%. Additionally, this category had the lowest reported use of mental health services with females at 31.2%, almost twice as likely as males at 13.2% to use mental health services.

** Literature Review ** In Australia, suicide accounts for more deaths then transport accidents. Male deaths by suicide have outnumbered females for the better half of a century. In the early 1920’s, male suicide rates stood at 16 per 100, 000 and increased to 24 per 100, 000 during the depression in the 1930’s. During the war, rates decreased to 10 per 100, 000. Gradually increasing every year after, rates did not decrease again until 1998, where rates reached levels above those in the 1930’s. Since 1998, rates have steadily decreased standing again at 16 per 100, 000 in 2008 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). In comparison, the rate of female deaths by suicide stood at 4.1 per 100, 000 in the 1920’s and remained steady throughout the depression and war reaching a high of 11.1 per 100, 000 in 1967. Since 1967, rates have declined and since the 1990’s remained fairly steady at a rate of 4 – 6 per 100, 000 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). The National Suicide Prevention Strategy targets both men and youth as at risk groups of suicide (Australian Government, 2011). Youth is defined as 12 – 25 years, however it is very rare in those under 15 years and increases in the latter teenage years, peaking at young to mid adulthood. Since it’s peak in the late 1990’s, the overall rates of youth of suicide have decreased but, the incidence of self-harm and psychological distress has increased. There are a large number of factors identified for the increased risk of suicide amongst youth including; parental loss through separation or divorce; physical or sexual abuse; interpersonal problems; problematic use of drugs or alcohol; problems involving violence; experiencing a suicide within the family; having a parent with a mental illness; disadvantage from low socio-economic status, limited educational achievement, low income or poverty. Additionally, with suicide in men being four times more common then in women, it is indicated that younger men (20 – 44) are the most at risk group with suicide accounting for over a quarter of all deaths for this age group. Playing a significant role in determining the risk of suicide in this age group include life event such as; depression, unemployment, financial difficulties, relationship problems, work stress and alcohol and drug abuse (ACT Health, 2009). Factors like depression, alcohol and drug abuse fall under the category of mental illness. There is a strong association between mental illness and suicide with suicide being the leading cause of premature death for those suffering a mental illness. Of those reported having suicidal thoughts, 72% had or was suffering from a mental illness. The main disorders associated with suicide are depression, alcohol/drug/substance abuse and schizophrenia. Surprisingly however, statistics show that females compared to males showed higher rates of anxiety disorders (17.9% compared to 10.8%) and affective disorders (7.1% compared to 3.3%) like depression. However men are more then twice as likely to have a substance abuse disorder (7.0 compared to 3.3%) (Slade, et al. 2007). An explanation for the contrast in figures may be that men are less aware or inclined to use the health services available to them. As aforementioned, service use in Australia was reported to be lowest for those aged 16 – 24 with a prevalence of 23.3%. Additionally, this age group represented the greatest difference in service use between females and males (31.2% compared to 13.2%) (Slade, et al. 2007). Further suggestions to explain the high rates of suicide in Australian men include: (ACT Health, 2011) Addressing the last point, it is often argued that the gender issue is largely a result of men using more lethal methods to commit suicide over women (Bourke, 2003). This may explain why research showed females as more likely to be suicidal over males, with higher rates of suicidal ideation and hospital admissions for attempted suicide (Slade, et al. 2007). Over the last 30 years there has been a marked change in the methods used among men. Up until the 1990’s the use of firearms was the leading means of suicide for young men. This was found to be especially true for young men in rural areas with three quarters of all male suicide carried out by firearms. Hanging and strangulation was the second and unfortunately represents the major shift in choice of method for both young males and females ( Ruzicka & Choi, 1999). Since 1997 it has been the most frequently used method of suicide (Harrison, Pointer & Elnor, 2009). With suicide being such a rare event it is difficult to fully understand and measure its true prevalence. Most studies on the topic rely on statistical findings, in which the reliability of is restricted due to the complex system in which a suicide is determined. //A review of suicide statistics// report (Harrison et al., 2009. pp 19) found that determining suicide statistics involved several stages and numerous agencies and individuals. Even after careful consideration it is hard to determine whether a death was by suicide, as doubt can remain about the state of mind of deceased when he or she undertook a self-harming act. This is further complicated by the delicate nature of suicide as many relatives wish the death not to be determined a suicide. Moreover, available statistics on suicide are usually 2 – 3 years old, due to the delay in resolving cases before the coroner (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). Other studies on suicide and suicide ideation rely mainly on the self-report of interviewees or respondents to questionnaires. These methods are known for inconsistent results as they rely heavily on the honesty and willingness to provide information from the participant. However, putting these implications aside, the history of suicide amongst young men in Australia, in addition to the vulnerability of youth to life events and mental illness and the lack of services being sought, it is clear that suicide amongst young men is an important issue of focus for our country.
 * Lack of awareness of available support services in their area or a feeling that these services do not adequately cater for their needs and would not help in their situation;
 * A tendency among men not to recognise or respond to their own negative emotions or distress, which may result in more chronic and severe emotional responses to adverse life events;
 * A tendency among men not to seek help for emotional difficulties or communicate their feelings of despair or hopelessness to others;
 * A feeling that help-seeking displays weakness or failure and a preference to solve problems on their own, without being a burden on others; and
 * The higher likelihood in men to choose more lethal methods of suicide

** Cultural and Social Analysis ** Important to this issue is the cultural and social construction of masculinity. Throughout history ideologies surrounding men propose that men portray and sustain social personas such as; toughness, emotional invulnerability, heterosexual dominance, success and avoidance of anything deemed feminine (Adams & Govender, 2008). It is speculated in many studies that this stoic social construction of men is the reason men avoid talking about personal problems and thus not disclose thoughts about depressive or suicidal feelings to others (Singleton, 2007). Smalley, Scourfield and Greenland (2005, pp.135) argue that the aspects of this dominant model of masculinity also increase the risk of lethal suicides. Emile Durkheim, father of sociology was one of the first to view individual issues as reflective of social patterns. His studies suggested that rapid economic change and restricting would result in social consequences. One of which was the possibility of anomie, entailing a breakdown of social bonds between an individual and community ties and a tension between expectations and reality, and as a consequence an increase in suicide caused by individual loss of meaning (Durkhiem and Simpson, 1951). Gilchrist, Howarth and Sullivan (2007, pp. 151) explore Durkheim’s theories by investigating the association between youth suicide and unemployment. The article explores the perceptions of young people, parents and service providers about the cultural context of suicide and how it comes to be constructed as an option for young people experiencing economic marginalization. The study was conducted in ‘Subcity’ a fictitious name for a group of suburbs on the edge of a large Australian city with a reputation for having a high youth suicide rate. Forty-one people from the community were interviewed, 20 service providers and 21 youth (16 – 25). Scenarios on youth suicide like the example below were used to stimulate discussion during interviews: “Mark and his friends were looking forward to the Battle of the Bands concert that was coming up on the weekend. Mark was 23, unemployed and was worried about the cost of the ticket and some drinks with his mates because he was behind in his rent. Mark’s friends reckoned that this was one of the coolest events of the year and that everyone was going to be there. Mark told his friends that he was deﬁnitely going, but not to wait for him. On the night of the concert, he never turned up and his friends had no idea what had happened to him. Mark was found dead by police in his brother’s car. The engine was still running and Mark had suffocated.” The results of the study found that the relationship between suicide and unemployment was primarily in the context of young males. It was noted that western notions of masculinity including, independence, financial success and emotional reserve act as the ‘gold’ standard for parents, service providers and youth. Hence, young men have found themselves stuck between cultural expectations and economic reality. A tension in the culture of individualism was also found to exist. On one hand people are expected to be independent and provide for themselves financially and emotionally, while on the other there is an expectation to conform to social norms. For those who cannot meet these expectations options seem limited. Therefor a young man who is unemployed can become profoundly distressed and regard himself as a failure and thus, perceive suicide as an alternative to enduring such failure. Smalley et al. (2005, pp.135) also argue that failure in the primary adult male role (economic success) is more obvious than failure in the primary female role (success in relationships). Thus, men are more apt to feel like failures in their primary role and hence, more likely to commit suicide. In this context Durkheim’s observations that anomic circumstances (arising in periods of economic restructuring or rapid social change) may lead to suicide, remain applicable in modern communities that support notions of traditional masculinity (Gilchrist et al. 2007).


 * Analysis of the Artefact **

The artefact I have chosen is a raw and honest example on the issue of young male suicide in Australia. All the main points presented in the literature review are addressed in the article. First, the high prevalence of suicide amongst young males is evident as Joe, was not the first, but the third young male in his extended family to commit suicide. Secondly, the mystery and shock surrounding Joe’s death serves as an indicator that Joe “hid his demons,” never seeking or expressing signs that he may need help. Lastly, described as, “the happy-go-lucky-Kiwi with the 1000-kilowatt smile,” and “the life of the party” (Daivs, 2007), Joe was found hanging in a Brisbane park, the major method of suicide that is becoming increasingly popular amongst youth. Personally, this artefact has significant meaning to me, as Joe Clark was a very close friend of my sister’s, Kiri Sullivan. I had met Joe myself on a number of occasions and he seemed, just as the article depicted him, a happy young man with a big charming smile and genuine personality that you were immediately drawn too. On the day of his death I witnessed the devastation caused by the news and it is something that will never leave me. Rima, Joe's mother, states in the article, “ I know Joe wouldn’t have done it too hurt anyone…but he’s left behind a lot of people who are hurting and asking questions.” (Davis, 2007). Those bereaved by suicide suffer a pain unimaginable and as an outside witness to this the importance of preventing such future heartache and removing the stigma that surrounds men speaking out about their feelings, emotions and mental illness, feels monumental to me.

** Learning Reflection ** Reflecting on this assessment it has allowed me to think more about what has impacted on the construction of my values and beliefs and how I see the world. I myself am guilty of viewing the world by its traditional values and norms; viewing men as dominant, competitive individuals who never express weakness and as a woman have also placed extreme pressure on myself to conform to female ideals about body shape. Now, however I see that society and culture influence much of what I believe and that there are in fact other ways to view the world. Indeed, this realization is going to influence my future learning, thinking process and how I approach future assessments.

** Learning Engagement and Reflections ** **Reflection 1**: 'Face of Evil' - The Stigma Associated with Mental Illness First, I would like to say that this is one of the most interesting wiki's I have come across and although it was shocking I found it very interesting and greatly enjoyed reading it. The artefact you chose was a fantastic choice that really captures how far mental illness can go when left untreated.

I found your Cultural Analysis of explanatory attributions and predictive attribution fascinating. I agree that both these attributions are contributing to the stigma surrounding mental illness in society today. I myself have been guilty of this.

The way you analysed mental illness in extreme cases like Martin Bryant's, as more then a chemical imbalance and neglected use of services but rather a result of stigma which is deeply rooted in our society, was very eye-opening.

A truly great piece of work.
 * Reflection 2:[|Mental Illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma shames us all!] **

First, I would like to say that the artefact you chose was very moving and a great depiction of stigma in our society.

You presented a number of fantastic studies in your literary review that really supported what you were saying. I found the study by Thornton and Wahl particularly interesting. In life people are very quick to jump to conclusions and make assumptions especially about things we know nothing about. It's funny how as soon as we are enlightened with the slightest bit of information our perceptions can change immediately.

The statistics you presented were also very eye opening and helped to gauge the importance of removing the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Great work Brooke

**__ Reference List __** ACT Health. (2011). Managing the risk of Suicide: A suicide prevention strategy for the ACT 2009 – 2014. Retrieved from []

Adams, L. & Govender, K. (2008). Making a perfect man: Traditional Masculine Ideology and perfectionism amongst adolescent boys. //South African Journal of Psychology, 38// (3), 551-562. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Australian Government (2011). National Suicide Prevention Strategy. Retrieved from [|http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mental health/publishin g.nsf/content/] national-suicide-prevention-strategy-1 Bourke, L. (2003). Toward understanding youth suicide in an Australian rural community. //Social Science and Medicine// //57//, 2355 – 2365. doi. 10.1016/S0277-9536(03)00069-8

Commonwealth of Australia. (2010). Overview of Suicide Statistics 2008//.// Retrieved from []

Davis, G. (2007, July 15). If only Joe Clark Knew. //The Sunday Mail.// Retrieved from http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/if-only-joe-clarke-knew/story-e6frep5x-1111113958612

Durkheim, E., & Simpson, J. (1951). Suicide: A study in sociology [EBL version]. Retrieved from [|http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=v23YleX1UskC&oi=fnd&pg=PA9&dq=egoistic+suicide&ots=sXUIDYkaWk&sig=-YrL7Ai32e_zOqlLbGOaT4HkvWg#v=snippet&q=egoistic&f=false]

Ford, G. (2005) Suicide in Australia: A Public Health Perspective. //Health Issues, 85// (3),28-31. Retrieved from ____ISSN: 0819-5781.

Gilchrist, H., Howarth, G. and Sullivan, G. (2007). The cultural context of youth suicide in Australia: Unemployment, Identity and Gender. //Social Policy and Society. 6//(2), 151 – 163. doi: 10.1017/S1474746406003423

Ruzicka, L. & Choi, C. Y. (1999). Youth suicide in Australia. //Journal of population research, 16//(1), 29-46. doi: 10.1007/BF03029453

Singleton, A. (2007). Boys in Crisis? Australian Adolescent Males beyond the Rhetoric. //Journal of Young Men’s Health.15//(3), 361 – 373. Retrieved from [] Slade, T., Johnston, A., Teesson, M., Whiteford, H., Burgess, P., Pirkis, J. and Saw, S. (2009) //The Mental Health of Australians 2. Report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.// Retrieved from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing website []

Smalley, N., Scourfield, J. and Greenland K. (2005) Young People, Gender ad Suicide: A review of the research on social context. //Journal of Social Work. 5//(2), 133-154. Doi: 10.1177/146801730505495

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Harrison J.E, Pointer, S. and Elnour A.A. (2009). //A review of suicide statistics in Australia.// Retrieved from The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website [].