By: Saneliso Mlambo
Every hour, South Africa loses another man to suicide. By the end of the day, roughly two dozen men will have taken their own lives, and by the end of the year, thousands of families will be mourning fathers, sons, brothers and friends.
Yet despite men accounting for nearly 80% of suicide deaths in the country, researchers say the crisis remains largely hidden behind stigma, silence and a mental healthcare system struggling to reach those most at risk.
A 2026 review published in the Journal of Men’s Health warns that male suicide in South Africa is no longer just an individual tragedy but a growing public health emergency driven by economic hardship, untreated mental illness, childhood trauma, substance abuse and deeply rooted ideas about masculinity.
For decades, South African men have been taught that strength means endurance, that vulnerability is weakness and that asking for help is something “real men” simply do not do. Researchers behind the Journal of Men’s Health review found these cultural expectations remain one of the biggest barriers to treatment.
Many men delay seeking help until depression, anxiety or trauma has reached a critical stage, while others never enter the mental healthcare system at all. Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has described the worsening mental health crisis affecting men and boys as “a silent national emergency”, warning that too many continue to suffer behind closed doors instead of receiving support.
The research argues that the crisis cannot be separated from South Africa’s economic reality. With persistently high unemployment, widening inequality and rising living costs, many men face relentless pressure to fulfil the traditional role of provider. When jobs disappear or incomes collapse, researchers found many experience a profound loss of identity, purpose and self-worth.
Instead of seeking counselling, many withdraw from family and friends or turn to alcohol and drugs in an attempt to cope. The review concludes that substance abuse rarely causes the crisis on its own but often intensifies depression, impulsive behaviour and suicidal thoughts that have gone untreated for months or even years.
Researchers also found that the roots of the crisis often begin in childhood. Exposure to violence, abuse, neglect and father absence leaves many boys carrying unresolved trauma into adulthood. Without emotional support or early intervention, those experiences can shape how men respond to stress, relationships and failure later in life.
The review argues that these unresolved psychological wounds do not only increase suicide risk but also contribute to substance abuse, broken families and interpersonal violence, creating a cycle that affects entire communities.
Mental health organisations say the country’s response has not kept pace with the scale of the crisis. The South African Federation for Mental Health has repeatedly called for greater investment in community mental health services, easier access to counselling, workplace support programmes and campaigns that encourage men to seek help without fear of judgement.
Researchers say reducing male suicide will require more than awareness campaigns. It will require changing how South African society understands masculinity, expanding access to mental healthcare and ensuring that asking for help is seen as an act of strength rather than failure. Until then, the country is likely to continue losing another man almost every hour to a crisis that remains largely invisible until it is too late.