Recently single Australian men are seven times more likely to report a suicide attempt, study shows

Mental health risks in relationship breakdowns can include changes in men’s contact with their children, in their finances, and in their support network, according to the Ten to Men project. Photograph: Jamie Grill/Getty Images/Tetra images RF/posed by models View image in fullscreen Mental health risks in relationship breakdowns can include changes in men’s contact with their children, in their finances, and in their support network, according to the Ten to Men project. Photograph: Jamie Grill/Getty Images/Tetra images RF/posed by models Recently single Australian men are seven times more likely to report a suicide attempt, study shows Fathers particularly affected, with almost 15% reporting suicidal plans after relationship breakdowns, according to survey of 20,000 men Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Men who have recently gone through a breakup are seven times more likely to report a suicide attempt than those who haven’t, a new study shows The Ten to Men project has followed more than 20,000 Australian men and identified the mental health risks in relationship breakdowns, which can include changes in their contact with their children, in their finances, and in their support network. The project, run by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (Aifs), looked at men’s suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts. It found that those who had had a relationship breakdown in the past year (2024-25) were more than twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts in the two weeks before being surveyed compared to those who hadn’t. Almost one in three (30.8%) reported such thoughts, compared to 14.4%. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email The statistics on suicide attempts were even more stark, with men about seven times as likely to report an attempt after a breakup than during a relationship or while already single. Of the men surveyed, 6.8% reported a suicide attempt in the wake of a breakup, compared to 0.9% not dealing with a recent relationship breakdown. That heightened risk continues for years after the breakup and the association remains even after accounting for age, income, employment, social support and prior suicidal thoughts. MPs v the manosphere: ministers battle misogyny as they take a different message to men and boys across Australia Read more Aifs Ten to Men longitudinal head, Dr Sean Martin, said some men were distressed soon after separation, while others coped initially but struggled over time, highlighting the importance of followups in the aftermath, and for years after that. “The findings highlight relationship breakdown as a major life transition associated with elevated suicide risk for men,” he said. “Separation can bring a cluster of changes all at once – disruption in contact with children, changes in housing or finances, and a shrinking support network. “These pressures often don’t occur in isolation, and the emotional impact can build rapidly, particularly in the months immediately following a