CDC: Suicides Among Middle-Aged Spikes
Associated Press - December 13, 2007

ATLANTA - The suicide rate among middle-aged Americans has reached its highest point in at least 25 years, a new government report said Thursday.

The rate rose by about 20 percent between 1999 and 2004 for U.S. residents ages 45 through 54 - far outpacing increases among younger adults, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

In 2004, there were 16.6 completed suicides per 100,000 people in that age group. That's the highest it's been since the CDC started tracking such rates, around 1980. The previous high was 16.5, in 1982.

Experts said they don't know why the suicide rates are rising so dramatically in that age group, but believe it is an unrecognized tragedy.

The general public and government prevention programs tend to focus on suicide among teenagers, and many suicide researchers concentrate on the elderly, said Mark Kaplan, a suicide researcher at Portland State University.

"The middle-aged are often overlooked. These statistics should serve as a wake-up call," Kaplan said.

Roughly 32,000 suicides occur each year - a figure that's been holding relatively steady, according to the Suicide Prevention Action Network, an advocacy group.

Experts believe suicides are under-reported. But reported rates tend to be highest among those who are in their 40s and 50s and among those 85 and older, according to CDC data.

The female suicide rates are highest in middle age. The rate for males - who account for the majority of suicides - peak after retirement, said Dr. Alex Crosby, a CDC epidemiologist.

Researchers looked at death certificate information for 1999 through 2004. Overall, they found a 5.5 percent increase during that time in deaths from homicides, suicides, traffic collisions and other injury incidents.

The largest increases occurred in the 45 to 54 age group. A large portion of the jump in deaths in that group was attributed to unintentional drug overdoses and poisonings - a problem the CDC reported previously.

But suicides were another major factor, accounting for a quarter of the injury deaths in that age group. The suicide count jumped from 5,081 to 6,906 in that time.

In contrast, the suicide rate for people in their 20s - the other age group with the most dramatic increase in injury deaths - rose only 1 percent.

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[SanDiegoGirl]

Great post, MRT.

What the article doesn't mention is that the age bracket given is the menopausal range for women.

And women who have pre existing mental illness are seriously worsened at menopause. The average for onset being 47-53.

The medical profession doesn't make a really big point of preparing women for this and some ladies end up completely blindsided by how profound the symptoms are.

In my research of this topic, one thing is clear, medical cannabis far and away is the very best measure of comfort that exists... hopefully someday the medical profession will grasp onto this concept and the suicide rate will go back down where it belongs.

[Hello_Kitty]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoGirl

Great post, MRT.

What the article doesn't mention is that the age bracket given is the menopausal range for women.

And women who have pre existing mental illness are seriously worsened at menopause. The average for onset being 47-53.

The medical profession doesn't make a really big point of preparing women for this and some ladies end up completely blindsided by how profound the symptoms are.

In my research of this topic, one thing is clear, medical cannabis far and away is the very best measure of comfort that exists... hopefully someday the medical profession will grasp onto this concept and the suicide rate will go back down where it belongs.

I'm not middle aged but i had a really good friend who killed herself 2 days after her 19th birthday =(! she had a son who just turned 2 this aug. and it's really messed up! she was REALLY PRETTY!!! I MEAN ANGELINA JOLIE BEAUTIFUL!!! LONG HAIR BIG FAT FULL LIPZ!!! No signs of depression. she was very out going and very social, LOTS of friends.
REST IN PEACE CHANTELLE~~~~~~~~~~~

[spings]

I think it might have something to do with our bad economy, lossing their jobs, homes, and retirement investments. Seems I read that the sucide rate jumped higer in the 1929-1933 era, when the country was in a depression.

[kennabis]

big time pharmacy affiliation...

i bet...

[Da Vinci]

I'd have to agree with the way the economy is doing right now with people losing there jobs and there homes its no surprise that these things are happening but you have to keep your head up for some that's easier to do than it is for others but life is not easy you just got to keep on moving never let life get you down just light one up and put a smile on your face stay up everyone

[Absynthe]

Kitty, sounds like perhaps your friend suffered depression from giving birth; I can't recall the name of it.

Remember - those of us suffering depression are very, very good at covering it up in public generally, and you wouldn't know if it slipped badly for us, unless you were around us 24/7, when our guard is down.

Remember, most people will think of suicide, but will immediately brush it aside. Only when people feel trapped, and without hope, will they commit the act.

Like the people I've spoken with who got passed suicidal impulses, they mostly agreed that they just simply needed to wait out the feeling, and it would, always does, go away. It's a permanent solution, to a temporary feeling!

Why 1-800-SUICIDE works! Give that number to anyone who talks about killing themselves - never take it lightly. Almost all the people I know who harmed themselves, either exhibited symptoms of talking about it, getting their affairs in order, or spent rediculous amounts of money suddenly.

Be safe, and care for each other.

Originally Posted by Da Vinci

I'd have to agree with the way the economy is doing right now with people losing there jobs and there homes its no surprise that these things are happening but you have to keep your head up for some that's easier to do than it is for others but life is not easy you just got to keep on moving never let life get you down just light one up and put a smile on your face stay up everyone

Words to live by!

[onecrazyfoo]

This day and age is a scary place and I too agree that the economy might have something to do with these suicides but have you ever thought that it could be the condition of our planet as well???I mean ...I dont know about you guys but everytime I see any article,documentary,or news report about all the crap that is clearly caused by global warming...I'm scared shitless. I fear whats in store for my kids and theyre kids. It's very depressing....I am a firm believer in prayer though so contrary to how horrible and depressing this world is There still is ALOT of good and prayer and faith does help....