Driving the news: A new report from the Sagamore Institute says the state's boys and young men are struggling to find success as they reach adulthood.

• "Many are falling behind," it found after looking at school test scores, surveys and other measures of achievement. "Some are hurting — battered by economic forces that are constantly changing the nature and prerequisites of work, by the absence of fathers and male role models, by cultural messages that say masculinity is 'toxic,' and by technologies that literally prey on brains that aren't yet fully developed."
• The result, the researchers found, is a widening gap in educational attainment and a sharp increase in young men struggling with loneliness and despair, leading Indiana men to be four times more likely to commit suicide Indiana women.

What they're saying: "We did this [report] … thinking about not just the almost moral imperative to make sure that boys and men have an opportunity to live a good life like we want everybody to," Sagamore president Teresa Lubbers told Axios, "but what the impact is on our workforce when people are not prepared for the changes that are coming."

Between the lines: The researchers said they were somewhat surprised the data shows boys doing better than girls academically in many areas through much of high school, including on the SAT.

• Yes, but: Fewer boys are graduating high school and even fewer are going to college.

By the numbers: Hoosier boys generally have higher school attendance rates and outperform girls on the ILEARN exam in math and science and on the SAT.

• Just 89% of boys are graduating high school, though, compared with 92% of girls.
• The college enrollment gap is even higher — 45% of young men are enrolling in college, compared with 58% of young women.

Caveat: The report is a start, looking for the points in time when boys and men encounter roadblocks that are worth further study.

• "Something clearly happens at the end of high school that sends a large percentage of young men off a cliff and on a downward trajectory," the report says. "What that something is, we don't know."

Zoom out: This is not just an Indiana problem, author Richard Reeves said Thursday during a talk with the Economic Club of Indiana.

• A senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, Reeves published a book in 2022 about the struggles of modern men.
• The struggles and gaps identified in Indiana's report mirror those happening around the country, he said.

Reality check: Reeves was quick to point out that while cultural shifts that have empowered women may be contributing factors, he doesn't believe the answers lie in turning away from girls and women.

• "That's just a false choice that no one except the culture warriors actually believes," he said.

What's next: The second phase of study will dig into the pain points, looking for a better understanding of what's happening and how to solve it.

The bottom line: "If we don't do better by our boys and young men," Reeves said, "it will not be good for any of us."

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, or a mental health or substance use crisis, please call 988 to reach Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and speak with a trained crisis specialist 24/7.