Reply to UPenn's Head of counseling and psychological services commits suicide

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]There is also a great deal of pressure to be successful in the workplace, especially for men. He took this high level position that is a very visible position in the university. Mental health services and the people that run them are in a spotlight. It is quite possible he felt that he wasn't up to the task after a few months there and he became aware of the true complexities of the institution, he may have felt completely overwhelmed,[/b] as though he was failing, crushed by the pressure to be successful, unable to see how he could do that he needed to do.

I don't think that is the only reason or that it is specific to UPenn but [b]we can't underestimate the social expectations on men to be professionally successful [/b]and to do that with no support or emotion. Men are often expected to care for the needs of others and to be the rock and support for the needs of others and to ask for nothing in return. Add to that not being good enough, not living up to expectations, feeling like an imposter, fear of disappointing others etc. That all takes a heavy toll. In men, unemployment increases the suicide rate - it is such a social focal point of male identity. He had just started this job six months ago - maybe it wasn't going well. [/quote]

This was my first thought.  There is a lot of pressure on people with a "big job" that is somewhat public-facing, and particularly if they are the primary breadwinner, as most men are.  This was also a very public way to end his life; not sure what that says, but that also stood out to me about this case.[/quote]

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