4 minute read
Death By Gender
By Dale Hardy, Social Justice 12 teacher at Riverside Centre Continuing Education School in Maple Ridge and Ed May Social Responsibility Grant recipient
“Objectification, and not masculinity, is at the root of all human cruelty. The feeding of division has never made the world better. Closing gaps through compassionate understanding and connection is the only way out.
“We have been giving out Naloxone kits since 2014. Mostly women come in to pick them up to support a female friend with addiction. We see this much less often with men.
“—Polegate A., Executive Director, Alouette Addictions Services
OUR PURPOSE The 2017 BC Coroners Service’s report on the opioid crisis documented 1,446 overdose fatalities. Of the victims, 1,191 were men and 255 were women. Fentanyl was involved in over 80% of these deaths, and over 90% of the victims were using alone. The overall number of overdose fatalities represented a 43% increase from 2016.
When Mark Goheen, a clinical specialist at Fraser Health Mental Health and Substance Use Services, shared these statistics with my Social Justice 12 class, we formulated the following questions:
• Why are males overrepresented in opioid fatalities? • Why are trade workers overrepresented in opioid fatalities? • What strategies are female drug users employing that serve as harm reduction? • What role does gender and gender socialization play in minimizing or maximizing risk?
“Female addicts will support each other when one is dope sick. Reciprocity kicks in. It is rare to see that kind of sharing with male addicts.
“—Woman with addictions
OUR PROCESS Over a five-month period, our Social Justice 12 class conducted over 24 interviews at Riverside Centre Continuing Education and out in the community, both in Maple Ridge and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. We also researched online using sources that various interviewees shared.
OUR CHALLENGES • Many interviewees had not considered our topic of investigation, and they initially offered few insights. Some participants who worked for government agencies or non-profit societies were either reluctant or refused to be quoted, fearing administrative or funding repercussions. • Many of the things we witnessed and learned were overwhelming. These included the death of a 27-year-old support worker with whom my class had developed a strong connection, witnessing a man experiencing an overdose on the street, learning that 14 people had overdosed in one night at the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), and hearing of the intense grief VANDU staff were experiencing due to the death of a staff member.
OUR FINDINGS • Many people seeking overdose treatment have a significant mental health burden, with over half using mental health services. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are the most common reasons for seeking care, but some individuals are also receiving treatment for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis. • While depression is as prevalent among men as women, its symptoms are different in men. They include irritability, risky behaviour, and escape mechanisms such as workaholism and alcohol abuse. • Men are 3–4 times more likely to commit suicide than women. More than 3,000 Canadian boys and men commit suicide every year—about one every three hours. • North American men going through a divorce are eight times more likely than divorcing women to commit suicide. Many men internalize the relationship breakdown as weakness and failure on their part. They might also externalize their grief through aggression or self-medicate with alcohol and other drugs. • Many people who overdose have histories of injury and pain management. • Mental health disorders and substance use issues are often treated as moral or criminal issues rather than health concerns. • 70% of Canadians who seek mental health treatment are women. This may be due in part to a lower degree of societal acknowledgement of problems that men often face compared to problems women typically face. • Men 19–59 years of age are most affected by overdose and do not frequently use healthcare services. • Paedophile rings exist in the community and play a role in compounding trauma, addiction, and suicide. • Contrary to popular belief, 90% of overdose deaths take place indoors, with 70% occurring in private homes. • One effect of the shift to a service economy on men in lower socioeconomic groups is reduced access to jobs that allow for the expression of the socialized view of masculine identity and pride.
OUR CONCLUSIONS • We need to move from blaming men for not reaching out to services as frequently as women to designing projects and public services that can help men. • While some socialized ideals of masculinity based on emotional stoicism and not expressing sadness can get in the way of men’s progress with mental health and addiction, support workers can still connect with men’s yearning for healthy lives by appealing to other socialized masculine values, such as working hard, taking action, and showing courage.
RESOURCES The following websites offer useful resources on the topic of men’s mental health: • HeadsUpGuys • Man-Up Against Suicide • The Men’s Centre • www.stopoverdose.gov.bc.ca • www.fraserhealth.ca/overdose • www.crisiscentre.bc.ca/get-help • “Men stave off depression through provider role” (Vancouver Sun).
