Suicide Rate Rises as Economy Stresses Middle-Age America

What part?

Not surprising.  Poor economic times has a lot of negative impacts.

I sure there is probably an increase in crime, divorce rates, suicides, bankruptcies, domestic violence cases, depression, mental illness.  Maybe an increase in alcohol and drug abuse.  All the typical things due to stress, shortage of money, anxiety.

Probably something to do with this.

It's sad.

I was thinking as i saw the headline that it seems to be topic we (as society) are more willing to discuss.  When in the past there was a blanket silence around it.  There's been quite a lot in the news lately here about aboriginal suicide rates which are staggering. 

My sister works with kids with autism and was being sought out to discuss suicide amongst those with the disorder - she's actually speaking at a conference this week about it.

I often think about this article - I found it really fascinating and informative which was about 'subway jumpers' in my city and has broader discussion.

Baby boomers getting older.

(oops)

The number of working people in the 25-54 (not the exact age group in the article) has fallen 6-7 million during the recession.

I don't think we are willing to talk about it much.  A guy jumped from the building that I look out at from my office window every day.  He jumped from the parking garage.  I was lucky that I wasn't looking out the window at that moment.  But I was unlucky enough to see his body and see him loaded into the coroner van.  

There was a short blurb in-relation to the traffic effects online and no follow-up about the guy.  

I guess they don't want to encourage it or they don't want to mess with the family by running a story about it.  

But it seems like they could've at least made a comment about the incident on the news and then mentioned that if you're feeling depressed and want to talk to someone, call this number ###. 

I've had 1 close friend who did kill himself, 2 friends who tried, and 2 fathers of friends who killed themselves.  It's so horrible for the family.  It's never that bad.

Here is the actual report.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6217a1.htm?s_cid=mm6217a1_w

Many of the media reports mention the current economy, but often fail to mention the other possible factors mentioned in the report.

1 - There is a baby boomer "cohort effect"... That is, many Baby Boomers had higher suicide rates as teens, so the increased suicide rate has followed them as they age. Likewise, one would predict an increase in suicide rate as senior citizens.

2 - The increase of intentional overdoses on opioid prescription meds and their boom in availability during this time.

Easy credit.. and the housing boom... and crash... and burn... too much to overcome. And I think our generation is kinda socially isolated in general.

Much less social support.