Where the numbers come from
brocheck.in leans on a few widely cited statistics to make the case for checking in on the men in your life, and on research explaining why men don't usually do it for themselves. Here's exactly where each number comes from, so you can dig in yourself.
Men account for nearly 80% of US suicide deaths
In 2024, 38,977 of the 48,824 suicide deaths recorded in the United States were men, roughly four times the rate among women. The gap has held steady for decades even though women report suicidal thoughts and attempts more often, a pattern researchers link partly to men using more lethal methods and being less likely to seek help beforehand.
Of men report having zero close friends
A 2021 national survey found the share of men with no close friends had climbed to 15%, up from just 3% in 1990, a fivefold jump. Single men fared worst, with roughly one in five reporting no close friends at all.
Of men received emotional support from a friend in the past week
The same survey found that only 21% of men said they'd received emotional support from a friend in the past week, compared to 41% of women, roughly half the rate. This gap in emotional connection, not just friend count, is a lot of what brocheck.in is trying to help close.
Why men don't reach out first
The stats above describe what happens once men are isolated. These describe why they get there: the social pressure most men are under to look like they don't need anyone, even when they do.
Men feel far more social pressure to "go it alone" than they actually believe in it
In a large study across the US, UK, and Mexico, 54% of young men agreed that society tells them to figure out personal problems on their own without asking for help, but only 27% personally believed that. Most men are performing a norm they don't actually hold, often because they assume other men do.
Distress is common. Seeking help for it isn't.
Among college men, 67% reported meaningful psychological distress in the past year, but only 22% sought professional help for it, compared to 40% of college women reporting the same distress who did seek help. Researchers consistently point to two overlapping causes: internalized shame about needing support, and fear of how peers would judge them for asking.
The specific fear is being seen as weak, not judged in general
Across dozens of studies, the barrier that comes up again and again isn't a dislike of talking. It's a fear that showing distress will make other men see them as weak, which keeps many men quiet even when they privately want to talk. That fear is usually about other men's reactions, not about whether talking would actually help.
A note on methodology
These are the most-cited figures on this topic, but social science stats shift depending on survey design, year, and sample. Where newer data has meaningfully changed the picture, we've flagged it above instead of quietly using the more dramatic older number.
None of this is meant as clinical or diagnostic information. It's context for why a low-effort check-in text is worth sending. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please use the resources on the home page.