GIANLUCA FLORIS
T
o be a man is complicated nowadays,
Male suicide is a difficult topic. We are obvi-
mainly due to the fact that we are experiencing a
ously missing something about understanding how
time when there is so much change happening. Be-
men cope with pressure and unexpected issues
ing a man in the past, it was a general thing. Men
that face us in life, whether that’s to do with feeling
went to work, men did all the typically masculine
a sense of failure about something, or being una-
things. Whereas nowadays, because of equality
ble to express who we think we really are, which
and more openness towards different ways of life,
is something I struggled with growing up. I guess I
it opens up different genres of what men can be.
can only speak of my own experiences, but I know
I grew up in a traditional way, so there are things
I’ve always been that person who’s very good at
that I think I should do as a man: be a gentleman,
giving advice but reluctant to take it myself. Maybe
respect people and have manners. I had an amaz-
that’s due to my opinion that I shouldn’t put the
ing upbringing, but the values and concepts and
burden of my own personal issues on anyone else.
ideas were conservative. My dad being Italian, they
I’ve always felt that I would never want anyone to
I am still reluctant to tell people how I really feel
feel as close to rock bottom as I have. If I’m not making someone else’s life better every day, then what’s the point in living? It could be anything from a smile to just a general chat, but doing something positive gives both you and the recipient something to remember. You don’t know what anyone is
are very traditional, men do one thing and wom-
en do the other, and that’s accepted there. I think
there are so many different aspects of being a man; where I fall into some, others fall into dif-
going through, so why is everyone not just kinder
ferent ones, it’s a collective of things. Anyone who
to each other? We need to bring back empathy. I
disrespects another person, whether they’re male,
am still reluctant to tell people how I really feel
female, whoever they are, no matter where they
because I don’t know what they’re going through,
come from, no matter who they are, they should
so why should I burden them with my problems
be held to account. We are all people and should
too? That, I expect, is one of the main reasons for
know better. We all have access to the knowledge
male suicide.
of what is right and what is wrong. Especially in the
Anyone who experiences that kind of rock bot-
world today. With social media, you have access
tom is having issues that no one else can really
to every type of perception that there is, so you
comprehend. Whether it’s that they’re gay and they
should be able to make a logical decision about
hate the fact that this is who they are, which was
what is acceptable and what is not.
the case for me. I really hated it for years. Now, I accept it and live with it, but I still struggle. It
