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The suicide rate among middle-aged individuals in the United States has taken a major leap forward in the past decade, new research shows.
A report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the suicide rate among men and women aged 35 to 64 years increased by 28% 32% for women and 27% for men between 1999 and 2010.
Increases in suicide rates were also especially high among non-Hispanic whites and American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The increases were geographically widespread and occurred in states with high, as well as average and low, suicide rates, the authors report.
Increases in suicide rates among males and females were also observed from suicides involving hanging/suffocation, poisoning, and firearms. Suicide rates for individuals aged 10 to 34 years and for those aged 65 years and older did not change significantly during this period.
"Suicide is a tragedy that is far too common. The stories we hear of those who are impacted by suicide are very difficult. This report highlights the need to expand our knowledge of risk factors so we can build on prevention programs that prevent suicide," CDC director Thomas Friedan, MD, said in a release.
When the public thinks about suicide, they tend to see it as something that typically affects adolescents and people in later life. But alarmingly, more middle-aged Americans are dying by suicide. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a nearly 30% increase in the suicide rate among adults 35 to 64, with the most significant increase in those 50 and older. Why the suicide rate is climbing in this age group is a question without a simple answer.
There are many risk factors, including high unemployment rates and a weak economy that has been pervasive at all levels of our society; the widespread abuse of prescription pain medication; the problems experienced by aging veterans of the Vietnam War or the Gulf War; the difficulty in convincing men, in particular, to seek help for physical and mental illnesses; and the realities of the baby boomer generation, a group that has experienced unusually high levels of addiction, suicide attempts and mental illness as young adults.
The CDC report makes it clear that we must continue to fund scientific research exploring the causes of suicide. It confirms the need to use evidence-based knowledge to expand our research and prevention efforts, in particular, to underserved populations. Suicide prevention programs have typically focused on youth, young adults and the elderly. Now we know we need to do more for those in middle age. Fortunately, there are measures we can take to prevent suicide.
We know that the majority of people who die by suicide have an underlying and often undiagnosed mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder. Are we doing enough to reduce the stigma associated with talking about, and seeking treatment for, mental health conditions? President Barack Obama has recently called on the nation to expand efforts to address mental health problems and to eliminate the stigma associated with seeking treatment. He is right. We know, too, that there can be warning signs before a suicide attempt.
More Opinion: Why more Americans are dying of suicide - CNN.com
Thinning of the herd
Joblessness. We know who to thank for that one.
Which makes Him culpable in these deaths.
Joblessness. We know who to thank for that one.
Which makes Him culpable in these deaths.
Joblessness. We know who to thank for that one.
Which makes Him culpable in these deaths.
Now Obama is responsible for the suicide rate? You guys are something else....
The suicide rate among middle-aged individuals in the United States has taken a major leap forward in the past decade, new research shows.
A report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the suicide rate among men and women aged 35 to 64 years increased by 28% 32% for women and 27% for men between 1999 and 2010.
Increases in suicide rates were also especially high among non-Hispanic whites and American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The increases were geographically widespread and occurred in states with high, as well as average and low, suicide rates, the authors report.
Increases in suicide rates among males and females were also observed from suicides involving hanging/suffocation, poisoning, and firearms. Suicide rates for individuals aged 10 to 34 years and for those aged 65 years and older did not change significantly during this period.
"Suicide is a tragedy that is far too common. The stories we hear of those who are impacted by suicide are very difficult. This report highlights the need to expand our knowledge of risk factors so we can build on prevention programs that prevent suicide," CDC director Thomas Friedan, MD, said in a release.
"These results highlight the need for suicide prevention strategies that address mental health issues and the stresses and challenges that middle-aged adults are likely to face. Such stresses include economic challenges, dual caregiver responsibilities, and potential health problems," the authors write.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/803498?nlid=31086_341&src=wnl_edit_medn_card&uac=%%uac%%&spon=2
Joblessness. We know who to thank for that one.
Which makes Him culpable in these deaths.
Now Obama is responsible for the suicide rate? You guys are something else....
You're the first one to mention his name.
Now Obama is responsible for the suicide rate? You guys are something else....
You're the first one to mention his name.
You know who Mr. H meant. Unless you are being willfully ignorant. I'm surprised he hasn't been blamed for earthquakes yet.
You're the first one to mention his name.
You know who Mr. H meant. Unless you are being willfully ignorant. I'm surprised he hasn't been blamed for earthquakes yet.
You mean like Bush was blamed for creating Katrina and sending it to New Orleans? Like that? Or how about the repeated lies about more Hurricanes more powerful Hurricanes and doom and gloom if we don't pass cap and trade? Like that?
Perhaps you meant something else?
Joblessness. We know who to thank for that one.
Which makes Him culpable in these deaths.
Economic issues (especially those caused by long term joblessness) are definitely contributing to the suicide rate. The cost in human lives and wasted potential of this Faux Recovery is enormous.
Joblessness. We know who to thank for that one.
Which makes Him culpable in these deaths.
Now Obama is responsible for the suicide rate? You guys are something else....
You're the first one to mention his name.
Joblessness. We know who to thank for that one.
Which makes Him culpable in these deaths.
Economic issues (especially those caused by long term joblessness) are definitely contributing to the suicide rate. The cost in human lives and wasted potential of this Faux Recovery is enormous.
And the faux trickle down theory of economics started it all in 1980, not 2009 as some on this board seem to think.
Nothing trickled down, it all went sideways and out.
It's a lie. The suicide rate from 1990 to 2010 has remained pretty much constant rising by a few percentage points and then dropping and rising again but there has been no dramatic rise either by race or gender.
