Stephen King’s Joyland (2013) is a mystery novel – a ghost story; it isn’t as terrifying as his typical horror books, but it shares coming-of-age themes with some of King’s other works. It tells the story of Devin Jones, a man in his 60s reflecting on the time he worked at a haunted North Carolina amusement park, Joyland, in 1973, when he was a 21-year-old man with ‘a broken heart’ and ‘occasional suicidal ideations’. The novel’s first-person narration highlights his distressed mental state post breakup and eventual recovery, reinforcing themes of finding belonging amid periods of loss and loneliness. Thus, drawing on Devin’s story, this essay examines heartbreak as a risk factor for suicidality in young men and the protective factors that may buffer against this outcome.

Evidence suggests that relationship breakdown is associated with an elevated risk of suicide among young men (<35 years). At a psychological level, distress after breakups is usually transient; however, post breakup, emotional overwhelm and overlapping emotions such as sadness and shame, may increase vulnerability to suicidality. In Devin’s case, the heartbreak feels like ‘the end of the world’ and functions as a catalyst for his suicidal ideation, reflecting the all-consuming nature of his emotions; he even describes his loss of direction and deflation as ‘shameful’. In parallel, he also demonstrates behavioural patterns associated with suicidality in men, which may delay help-seeking, such as emotional restraint and self-reliance, as he recalls how his upbringing shaped his belief that ‘barfing your feelings on other people’ is impolite, hence contributing to his not revealing the full extent of his mental suffering to his friends.

Rather than focusing solely on risk, Joyland equally features protection and recovery. Connectedness comprises not only interpersonal relationships but also connection to ‘purpose or meaning’. Over time, Devin finds a sense of belonging that buffers his emotional turmoil – particularly through his work as the park’s dog mascot and relationship with Mike and Annie Ross. Likewise, his interest in solving the murder of Linda Gray, the ghost haunting Joyland, gives him a new sense of purpose. Devin’s recovery also involves self-prioritisation through reconnecting with past hobbies, such as rereading The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955). King’s decision to include this fantasy novel demonstrates his skilful use of intertextuality to emphasise Joyland’s themes of connection, suffering and hope.

In summary, Stephen King’s Joyland illustrates the trajectory from distress to recovery while highlighting protective factors, providing a nuanced and insightful portrayal of heartbreak and suicidality in young men.