Intimate relationships and Suicidal Behaviour of Men in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

Suicidal behaviour (e.g., suicide and suicide attempt) is a multifaceted phenomenon which often draws on several social and psychological contexts. This research examines how men’s suicides and attempted suicides are embedded in the contextual praxis of intimate relationships in Bangladesh. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken with family members, close relatives, and friends of 37 men who died by suicide or attempted suicide. This research’s findings identify five key risk factors associated with men’s suicide and attempted suicide, namely: troubles over the designated family provider’s responsibilities; troubles emanating from second marriage; betrayal of loyalties; complications in non-marital relationships; and feelings of no control over wife. Each theme suggests that men who died by suicide or who attempted suicide found it challenging to balance their culturally expected (hegemonic) masculine image with their intimate relationships. Suicide and attempted suicide surfaced as a consequence of such challenges in their life. Efforts are suggested to lessen the burden on men’s masculine expectations and promote an egalitarian social space in order to reduce suicide risk in men.

KEYWORDS:

• Suicide
• suicide attempt
• men
• hegemonic masculinity
• intimate relations
• Bangladesh

Declaration

The article is original, has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anisur Rahman Khan

Anisur Rahman Khan is Assistant Professor at the Department of Sociology, East West University, Bangladesh. His research interests include men and masculinity, sociology of suicide and social policy analysis.

Najuwa Arendse

Najuwa Arendse is Office Manager and Scientist at Institute for Social and Health Sciences, University of South Africa & South African Medical Research Council-University of South Africa Masculinity and Health Research Unit, Cape Town, South Africa. Her research interest includes health promotion and injury prevention interventions. She is currently project manager of the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS).

Kopano Ratele

Kopano Ratele is Director of the South African Medical Research Council Masculinity & Health Research Unit and Professor at the University of South Africa. His research, teaching, socio-political activism, and community mobilisation focusses on men, boys and masculinity, violence, class, fatherhood, race and decolonial psychology.