After a Suicide Attempt: Recovery and Prevention Strategies for Men

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please stop reading and reach out for help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) provides 24/7 support.

The Moment Everything Changes

Kevin Hines (Golden Gate Bridge survivor): “The millisecond my legs cleared it, it was instant regret that filled my heart.”

The statistics are stark. Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides. Roughly 8 men take their life every day, amounting to 3,000 deaths per year in Canada alone. Yet behind these numbers are stories of men who survived. Men who found their way back. Men who discovered that their darkest moment wasn’t their final chapter—it was the beginning of recovery.

Understanding the Road Back: Science, Faith, and Hope

Ken Baldwin (Golden Gate Bridge survivor): “I instantly realized that everything in my life that I’d thought was unfixable was totally fixable—except for having just jumped.”

Recovery after a suicide attempt isn’t just about surviving. It’s about rebuilding a life worth living. Research shows us why this journey matters so much for men specifically.

What the Science Tells Us

Research shows that most survivors do go on to live their full, natural lives: 90% of people who survive a suicide attempt do not die from a subsequent attempt. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s hope backed by evidence.

The largest research review on male suicide recovery, analyzing 78 studies that encapsulated insights from over 1,695 people, found something crucial: Supporting men to understand and regulate emotions and suicidal pain, expanding possibilities for masculine identity, and building meaningful interpersonal connections were reported as helping support recovery from suicidal crises.

Studies also reveal that 68 different risk factors can contribute to male suicide risk. But here’s the encouraging part—many of these same factors become pathways to recovery when addressed properly.

A Christian Perspective on Healing

From a Christian worldview, recovery takes on deeper meaning. God desires to give you hope and to fill you with joy and peace. Scripture reminds us in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Recovery isn’t just medical—it’s spiritual. The spiritual aspect of bereavement was crucial in each case and discovering God’s perspective on their loved one’s way of dying was critical to their ‘recovery’. This applies equally to those recovering from their own attempts.

A psychiatric expert who treats Christian patients notes: I can tell you that the patients who remove the option of suicide in their lives often see a substantial, positive transformation in their mental health and life in general.

Expert Counselor Insights

Mental health professionals emphasize that recovery is possible but requires professional support. Grief therapy often involves more than simply helping the client to express and/or gain insight into their feelings. It includes education, trauma processing, and rebuilding life skills.

One experienced counselor notes: Suicide is a health crisis, no different than a heart attack or stroke. In a suicidal crisis, your brain is physically unable to see a way through the pain, emptiness, or exhaustion.

A Survivor’s Voice

Drew Robinson, former Major League Baseball player, attempted suicide in 2020. Today, he shares his story: Afterward, unsure why he was still alive, he asked himself if he still wanted to be. The answer was yes. Robinson now dedicates his life to helping other men find hope and professional help.

His message is simple but powerful: recovery is possible, but it requires reaching out for support.

Taking Action: Your Recovery Strategy

Dese’Rae Stage (suicide attempt survivor and advocate): “I am not grateful for my pain, but I am grateful for what my pain has taught me.”

Recovery doesn’t happen overnight. But it does happen. Here are evidence-based strategies that work specifically for men:

1. Build Your Support Network

Research consistently shows that connection saves lives. What we actually need to do is the opposite [of isolating]. Even if it’s grabbing a cup of coffee or calling an old friend, it’s important to stay connected.

Start small:

Text one person today
Join a support group (online counts)
Connect with your church community

2. Redefine Strength

Traditional masculine norms can be barriers to recovery. Norms relating to male emotional suppression, failing to meet standards of male success, and the devaluing of men’s interpersonal needs appeared to be associated with dysregulated psychological pain and suicide risk.

Real strength means:

Acknowledging when you need help
Processing emotions instead of stuffing them
Building relationships, not just achievements

3. Get Professional Help

Depression—the most frequent cause of suicide—is treatable. Don’t face this alone.

Find help through:

Your family doctor
Christian counselors
Crisis lines (call 988)
Local mental health centers

4. Create a Safety Plan

Write down specific steps for when you feel vulnerable:

Warning signs to watch for
Internal coping strategies
People to contact
Professionals to call
Ways to make your environment safer

5. Develop Daily Practices

Recovery happens in daily choices:

Regular exercise (even short walks)
Consistent sleep schedule
Spiritual practices like prayer or Bible reading
Meaningful activities that give purpose

Try This Today

The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique: When overwhelming thoughts hit, name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste. This brings you back to the present moment.

Reach out: Send one text to someone who cares about you. Just say “thinking of you” or “how’s your day?”

Pray this prayer: “God, I’m still here for a reason. Help me see beyond today’s pain to tomorrow’s possibility. Give me strength for this moment.”

Your Story Isn’t Over

Matthew Nock (psychologist and researcher): “Most people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide.”

Recovery from a suicide attempt isn’t about forgetting what happened. It’s about discovering what’s possible now that you’re still here. Grief needs to be witnessed. Tell your story, as you’re ready, with people you trust and feel safe with. We heal and grieve through community and connection.

You survived for a reason. Your next chapter starts today.

Tomorrow, we’ll explore how “Cross-Training for Mental Health: Combining Different Exercise Types” can be a powerful tool in your recovery toolkit.

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