Darren Lewis – Mike Thalassitis’ death points to unsolved suicide issue for men

He is the painful reminder that we are barely scratching the surface.

Away from all the campaigns, the slogans, the helplines and the self-help books, men are still far more likely to kill themselves as an escape from their turmoil than women.

In 2017, the same year that Mike Thalassitis joined Love Island, three-quarters of
all suicides were male, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The many TV shows that see cheap entertainment in the reality concept may well have to examine their support structures.

The safety net needs to be wider. Vetting systems need to be far more rigorous. Executives need to give in less to the demand to trend on Twitter.

Suicide has been the biggest single killer of young men for years now.

Whatever we think we are doing to encourage kids, teenagers and young men to open up, it isn’t enough.

There still exists an environment within which they are unable to express themselves.

A social media generation determined to maintain the veneer of strength when inside they are at breaking point.

Football has long since accepted the need to address the issue after it became concerned at the high rates of suicide involving players released by clubs because they couldn’t make the grade.

Former stars such as Clarke Carlisle, Leon McKenzie and Lee Hendrie shared their experiences after it was revealed that when a player is no longer in the sport, his chances of getting clinical depression go up by 40%.

Outside of the bubble, relationships break down, the camaraderie is gone and the emotional support network disintegrates – if it was ever there.

So football has introduced training schemes, scholarships and projects to enable players to lay the foundations for a life away from the game.

Even before they get to an age where sport or celebrity can be a factor, our young men need help.

Too few are in a position where they can turn to a work-mate, a classmate or a friend and reach out.

You simply cannot blame ITV, Love Island or any reality TV show for that.

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