Worked for me

Women can now leave a marriage if they want. I imagine there are about the same number of marriages that have lasted decades that would have ended in divorce were that an option in their younger years.

I hardly think that it has anything to do with it as this seems to be a bit inconclusive. The males who commit suicide what age bracket, are they married already, are they guy, etc, etc.

As they say, marriage is grand.

On the other hand, divorce is 50 or 60 grand.

I’m in favor of a 3-year renewable contract, fully negotiable with predefined exit conditions.

To me, marriage is archaic.
If people want to tie themselves to one another, just draw up a legal contract.
Contracts expire, and each party has the option of renewal.
Governmental sanctioning of marriage is just another way to collect fees.
They shouldn't be involved at all.

One reason the divorce rate is so high is...because we made our decision under duress! We were deep in the throws of insanity brought on by brain alterations from a kind of ‘fantasy’ that simply does not exist! If we gave ourselves time enough...to see if we can work with a certain personality, we just might wait and choose a more workable partnership. Practical has never been that romantic! Illusion trumps logic, in romance! Lol

In my limited experience, males are not as resilient when it comes to emotional challenges nor as willing to reach out for help. All the people I knew who ended their lives were men, many very young. One was my stepson, 21 years old, and a new dad.
I always suspected that testosterone is the reason, and a chemical imbalance will eventually be found to be the culprit. Not sure if there is research going on.
And just to annoy people, I believe that marriage needs to be done away with. Groups of people can do a better job of raising children than a betrothed pair. ut that may be a subject for another discussion.

I think that the main reason marriages started declining then and continue to decline is mainly economic. 1973 was the year that real wages for Americans began to decline permanently. I think declining wages discourage marriage because people realize they can no longer be able to support themselves, a partner, and children on the income that most Americans get. Simply too poor to get married, start families, and be able to support them. One reason I chose to never have kids or marry someone with kids, is that I knew I would likely be too poor to afford that situation and did not want to live in poverty the rest of my like.

Men succeed at suicide more than women. But women attempt it on a greater scale. It appears to be due to the method of choice. Men hang or shoot themselves. Women tend to over dose. Assuming these are intentional. Marriage is an economic decision & should not be one of emotion as it currently is. Romance wears off. Parenting leaves your fortune to children. It is not a movie. It has serious legal ramifications. I would never have wed save for the great amount of benefits the government gives to those who do. This is why marriage equality must be extended to all humans regardless of persuasion. Finding someone who could accept my concept was questionable. A person not wanting children & not having any. Not desiring the ridiculous celebration aspect. Negotiating the terms of a business relationship. End of life decisions. He & I were just that. I do not expect to find another, nor am I searching.