Young men in the North are three times more likely to kill themselves than women, according to the Health Promotion Agency (HPA).
Launching a new advertising campaign encouraging men aged 15-24 years to seek help, HPA's chief executive Dr Brian Gaffney said that there were 242 deaths by suicide in Northern Ireland last year, of which almost three quarters involved men.
There were 242 suicide deaths in Northern Ireland in 2007, almost three-quarters involving men.
"Rather than talk to someone abouttheir concerns, young men are much more likely than women to use alcohol and other drugs in order to cope with worries, which can lead to other problems such as getting into fights, relationship difficulties and trouble with the police," said Dr Gaffney.
"Men have the same reactions to everyday stress and are just as susceptible to many of the same illnesses as women, but generally women will seek help and support for their problems while men tend to bottle things up, which may lead to a crisis," he added.
The new information campaign will run throughout June and includes television, radio and bus advertisements as well as washroom posters and beer mats.
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey who was present at today's launch in Belfast added that mental health illness was nothing to be ashamed of.
"Unfortunately there has been a long standing culture in Northern Ireland where people do not feel comfortable with opening up and discussing their mental health," he said.
"Young males, in particular, often find it difficult to talk to friends, family and health professionals about how they feel. This is, in part, perhaps due to the stigma that is attached to the issue," added Mr McGimpsey.
PA