Mal Fletcher comments on Generation X and how generational characteristics in youth might impact upon adult behaviour in middle-age

Some social commentators, among them committed feminists, now believe that while many nations on earth still deny women fundamental rights, an 'anti-male agenda' may be emerging in our own culture. This, they say, may be taking feminist ideals too far. It is producing, among other things, deep confusion among men, who no longer know who they are or what role they are expected to play in society.

There are commentators who've suggested that the next step in this process may be the total removal of the word 'father' from legal documents, such as birth certificates. Instead of a father, a child will have a 'supporting parent'.

Another factor in the changing suicide situation is the pressure of job loss, caused by the ongoing recession, and by the changing face of work. The downturn in job availability has an impact on both genders. Once again, though, many men arguably lack an adequate outlet for dealing with troubled emotions brought on by unemployment.

'Big boys don't cry' is a childhood mantra that still rings in the ears of many a depressed male. Psychologists are aware that men face different expectations when confronting a crisis. They're expected to 'suck it up and move on'; no space is given for emotional catharsis.

The changing nature of work may also represent more of a problem for men than women. Jobs once mainly suited to men - in heavy industries such as mining - are now harder to find, or are situated in remote, less desirable locations. Even heavy manufacturing is moving toward greater automation. In place of these sectors, we see service and data-crunching jobs moving to the fore. Retraining is not always either attractive, easy or readily affordable for men in middle age.

Then there is the impact of drugs. Among British adults, alcohol is treated as a common, sometimes even necessary, stress relaxant and social lubricant. Yet its full impact on mental health is often overlooked.

According to the NHS, there was a 4.7% increase in the number of doctor's prescriptions for the treatment of alcohol dependency between 2010 and 2011. The figure, just over 167,000, represented a 63% increase compared to 2003.[1] It goes without saying that alcohol and pre-existing depression are a potent mixture.

Now, it seems, there's also a growing interest in other drugs - particularly the 'party' variety - among today's middle-aged. This age-group was the most heavily impacted by the rave party drug culture of the 80s and early 90s. A Channel 4 report last week on the use of MDMA - the pure form of Ecstasy - suggested that some middle-aged people feel affection for the drug because they remember it as a part of their carefree rave-generation youth. 'It's not heroin or crack,' was a common mantra then. 'It's just ecstacy.'

A study cited in the Times yesterday concluded that 15 percent of the British population have taken party drugs at some point in their lives. Growing numbers of them, it says, are re-acquainting themselves with the drug. Some are doing so because they feel it offers them improved empathy skills and is therefore helpful in maintaining relationships.

Party drug or not, MDMA is still a potent substance with a very real potential downside. Dr Roger Kingerlee, a chartered psychiatrist interviewed by the Times, says that among men, suicide is much more of an impulsive decision than it is for women. Substance misuse, he says, can raise levels of impulsivity.

Generational factors may also play a role in the changing suicide patterns. Specifically, I refer to the 'expectation gap' felt by older Millennials and the impact of relatively poor nurturing experienced by many younger members of Generation X. Both of these factors will be intensified by the economic downturn.

Speaking of generational cohorts is, of course, always fraught with risks. There is the chance that one will generalise too easily, for example, bracketing together people of very different socio-economic backgrounds and experiences. However, there is often a benefit in applying generational shifts or trends to social problems like suicide. For one, it provides a general overview of influences on the thinking of a people-group during a period of great change.

As a result, it can suggest possible predispositions in thinking and emotions within that age-group. And, in answer to the problem of over-generalising, we shouldn't underestimate the power of modern globalisation. Pop-cultural references and the impact of events, both trivial and important, are now spread rapidly - often immediately - across geographical and economic lines. This shared consciousness of events and cultural influences helps to shape generational identity.

Generational study is certainly not an exact science and its conclusions need to be weighed against many other factors. But dealing with a complex subject like suicide will never be an exact science - and any clues as to its origin may be helpful.