Many men struggle to find a new meaning in life when they retire. This can be seen in the suicide statistics. Men over the age of 80 are strongly represented here, statistics from NIPH show. The figures for men over the age of 75 show that per 100,000 people take their lives. For women, there are five. That is more than four times more. Einar Kildal is one of several pensioners who drive food around Alta for the volunteer center. He has been doing this for 10 years. Volunteer work has kept him active. – I started some years before I retired to think that I have to invent something, so that retirement does not become an abrupt transition. He has the impression that someone wants to relax after they have retired. – They may have worked until they are 67 years old and are tired. However, it did not suit the 72-year-old in Alta. – I wanted to be active, says Kildal. Einar has been doing this for ten years, but new names and addresses he has to deal with are constantly appearing. Photo: Jo Hermstad Tronsen / news Maturity in retirement Several retired men end up being passive and lonely in retirement. This has dramatic consequences, says Are Saastad from Reform, which is a resource center for men. – There are many men who fall due when they retire. It gives a dismal statistic, which shows a high number of men over 80 who take their lives. Where women commit less suicide the older they get, the opposite is true for men. According to Saastad, this is a symptom of men struggling to find meaning in life when they retire. – For many men, the job and career are a big part of their identity. When working life is over, it can be very difficult for some. Are Saastad from Reform is a candidate to sit on the men’s committee that will look at men’s rights. Here, more resources are needed on the field, he believes. Photo: Anna Rydland Nærum / news Meet new people When Einar Kildal retired, it was important to maintain social life. – Many of the friends from home have over time moved away or disappeared. By driving around with food in Alta, Kildal gets a new arena to meet people, something he looks forward to every 6 weeks when it is his turn. – By driving around with food, I constantly meet new people. We do not necessarily become best friends, but we may meet at the store and then we may say hello. You have to strike up a conversation with those you deliver to, but the food must be kept and delivered hot, Kildal points out. Photo: Jo Hermstad Tronsen / news Should set up for gender differentiation Professional advisor in the field of the elderly in the Red Cross, Kaia Vedlog Kveen believes it is important to differentiate what women and men like to do, and that they do not necessarily have the same preferences, which it often is added up for volunteer work. Men often like to do something, while women like to take care of others, or chat over a coffee. – We have an overwhelming majority of women who work voluntarily, so we are working to get more men into volunteering, says Vedlog Kveen. She believes women are better at activating themselves than men are. – That is why it is important that more men join, because they can contribute. Kaia Vedlog Kveen from the Red Cross, she misses several men in volunteering. She believes the activity should be arranged accordingly. Photo: Red Cross According to Vedlog Kveen, it is not necessarily the activity that is most important, but that you lure the men in so they can talk together. – The activities can lead to the important talk that everyone needs. It is important to be able to talk to someone about how you really feel. – Therefore, we should be better at arranging for more men to participate in volunteering. Must take the problem seriously Saastad agrees that it is important to differentiate appropriate activities for retired women and men. He believes it is time for retired men’s problems to be taken seriously. – A mix of efforts from the public and the volunteers is something that is needed. More research is needed, and measures that work, says Saastad and emphasizes: – It can involve action plans, guides for the service apparatus, and not least adapted offers for men in senior centers. Einar closes the lunch box this time. In six weeks it’s on again. Photo: Jo Hermstad Tronsen / news
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Older men top suicide statistics, volunteer work can be the solution – requires action – news Troms and Finnmark
