Suicide is a tragic and complex phenomenon that affects individuals and communities worldwide. Mental health negligence, particularly concerning men, has become a pressing concern. Despite increasing awareness of mental health issues, men often face unique challenges that make them more vulnerable to suicide. This article delves into the various factors contributing to this troubling trend. Global and Local Statistics of Suicide: Male vs Female Females, especially those under 25, exhibit higher rates of non-fatal suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation, and attempt suicide more frequently. But, in reality, males have a significantly higher rate of completing suicide than females. This phenomenon is commonly known as the gender paradox in suicide. Around the world, more men than women die by suicide. According to Wikipedia, in 2008 and 2015, the number of male suicides was about 1.8 to 1.7 times higher than female suicides globally. In Western countries, men are three to four times more likely to die by suicide compared to women. In 2015,  around two-thirds of global suicide deaths (representing about 1.5% of total deaths) were among men. Data from The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) in the USA for 2016 revealed that for every female suicide, there were about 3.5 male suicides. However, in China, the rates of suicide between men and women were almost the same. The male vs female suicide ratio is 9.1:10.3. Read more: Good Stress: What Are the Benefits of Eustress? In 2019, the rate of suicide deaths among males was over 3.5 times higher than that among females. By 2021, this disproportionate rate increased to over 3.9 times higher.  According to the CDC, in the USA, men experienced a suicide rate four times higher than that of women in 2021-2022.  In Bangladesh, the scenario is quite the same – more men than women commit suicide here. In 2017, there were over 11,000 recorded suicides. The average age for male suicide victims was about 28.86 years, while for females, it was about 25.31 years old. In 2019, 3.70 people took their own lives out of every 100,000 people in Bangladesh. The male suicide rate was 5.70 while the number is 1.70 for females. Also, the police records indicate a rising trend in suicides over the years. At the same time, psychologists estimate that around 11,000 people end their lives annually in Bangladesh. Read more: Students with Depression: Tips for Parents and Educators

The fundamental duty of a social therapist is to analyse patterns of human interaction in order to come up with workable answers to issues that crop up in everyday life. In simple words, it is the job of social counsellors to investigate how people and groups interact with one another, how they affect one another, and how they view one another. Social therapists often find employment in corporate or educational environments, where they mediate conflicts and provide advisory services. Stay with us to know the career path of becoming a social counsellor or therapist. Necessary Skills to Be a Social Counsellor People who are going through challenges or life-changing events, such as the loss of a family member, or patients whose chronic diseases interfere with their general quality of life may benefit from the services provided by psychologists.  Therefore, it is essential to display a variety of talents relevant to the subject of social therapy if one wants to be successful in the profession of social therapy. The following are examples of some of these skills: Effective communication  For social therapists to be successful, they need to have strong communication skills in order to comprehend their patients and communicate effectively with them as well as their families. Read Should You See a Therapist? 8 Surefire Signs You Need Help Observation and documentation  The exceptional ability to observe and documentation is necessary on the following matters - ability to identify patterns in clients, such as body language of people, especially the client’s body language - ability to watch interactions among clients and others - ability to record interactions throughout sessions, are all necessary skills for social therapists. Capability for analysis  Social therapists need strong analytical abilities in order to collect the information obtained during sessions. Moreover, the counsellor should have the ability to assess what conclusions can be reached from the research that has been undertaken and the feedback that has been received from clients. Read Discomfort Anxiety v Depression: Differences, Ways of Prevention Relationship-building abilities  Social therapists are able to deal with a wide variety of clients, patients, family members, and other health professionals because of their relationships and people abilities. Steps to become a Therapist or Social Counsellor  The central emphasis of all psychologists is on the brain, behaviour, and the connections that exist between the three. Those who decide to major in psychology have a wide variety of career options to select from including social counselling or therapist. These are the steps to develop a career as a social counsellor or therapist. Education Education for social therapists starts with a four-year bachelor's degree program. In addition to basic courses, psychology, sociology, counselling, and other comparable electives are emphasised. Highly suggested is a bachelor's degree in psychology or counselling. The individual must enrol in a master's degree program in order to receive a master's degree in counselling. Many places of employment recognize both a master's degree in social work and a social work licence for social therapists. Read Suicide Prevention: How to Deal with Suicidal Thoughts? Child development, the process of ageing, social behaviour, and cognitive psychology are some of the areas in which the students with psychology-majors could choose to specialise. Employment opportunities are available for them at educational institutions such as colleges and universities, as well as research institutes, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations. Post Graduate Training Because the prerequisites for clinical experience might differ from state to state, it is essential to familiarise oneself with the regulations of the state in which one wishes to engage in professional practice and to adhere to those regulations. According to the American Counseling Association, however, you will normally be needed to complete around 3,000 hours of supervised counselling experience before you can become a licensed professional counsellor. After completing a program leading to a master's degree and prior to obtaining a licence to practise as a therapist, you may use this external link. Read How to Overcome Depression Without Medication? Take a Licensure Exam In order to get a licence to practise therapy in any country or state, applicants must first demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills necessary by passing a thorough test. The process of exam and certification may vary from country to country. In the United States, there are several of these examinations, but the one that is taken the most often is the National Counselor Examination, which is carried out by the National Board for Certified Counsellors (NBCC). On the website of the NBCC, you will discover a directory of state boards that contains appropriate contact information, available licences, needed tests that vary from state to state, and information on how to register for exams and when they will be given. Apply for the Government Sector or Open a Private Firm Government sectors often call for experienced social counsellors for different posts. Just keep an eye on the regular job circulars. Apply for the post which matches your expertise and education. In Bangladesh, you might have to have 3 to 7 years of experience to get a Govt. role. Another good option is to open your own private firm. Read Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health: 10 Tips for Parents Bottom Line With the advancement of technology the pace of our life has increased. Now people have no or less time for sharing problems with others. Due to stress in career, family and business, many people are falling into chronic depression. As a result, the necessity of social counselling or therapy is increasing day by day. So far, we have discussed how to start a career as a social counsellor or therapist. However, the steps of certification may vary depending upon countries, states and regions. Hope it helps!