It's not painless

[Gob]

The suicide rate among middle-aged Americans rose 28% in a decade, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found.

Among adults 35-64, white people and American Indians saw the sharpest increases from 1999 to 2010.

The CDC did not investigate causes behind the trend, but noted many suicide prevention programmes were geared towards youths and the elderly.

The report found no significant change among other age groups.

Since 2009, suicide has claimed more Americans than motor vehicle crashes.

There were 38,350 suicides in 2010, making it the nation's 10th leading cause of death, the CDC said.

People aged 35-64 accounted for some 57% of suicides in the US, according to the data.

Overall, the suicide rate among Americans in this age group increased from nearly 14 per 100,000 people in 1999 to almost 18 in 2010, the CDC reported.

Among American Indians, suicides increased 65% from more than 11 per 100,000 to almost 19 in that decade

Suicides by white people increased 40%, from 16 per 100,000 to 22.

Experts are unsure about what caused the increase in suicides to be so disproportionately steep among Native Americans and white people, during a period which spanned the recession.

The sharpest increase in suicides in the study was among 50 to 64-year-olds of all ethnic backgrounds.

Death by firearm was still the most common method of suicide among middle-age Americans, representing 48% of such recorded incidents in 2010.

Hangings overtook drug overdoses in this age group, becoming the second most common method of suicide.

[Blueyes]

Oddly enough the local paper today had a story that spring is the season for suicides - I couldn't believe they posted that online. Not sure if it was in the printed version either. They even had a picture of the bridge where most of them try it.

[dales]

Try it?

I think you men "attempts it"?

I've heard spring is suicide season and my cohort (white male greater than 55 years of age) are among the most at risk.

If I don't post here for more than a few weeks you'll know what happened.

[dgs49]

"At risk" of suicide? What an odd turn of phrase. You either choose to do it or you don't. There is no "risk" about it.

[Gob]

Dave, depression is a progressive illness.

Unlike feeling gloomy or having a bad day, as happens to all of us from time to time, the symptoms of a severe clinical depression usually occur in episodes that last for ten months. During this time, the symptoms of depression will be more pronounced, with the sufferer becoming socially withdrawn and subjectively depressed. At these times, patients are more vulnerable to acts of self-harm and suicide attempts. Sometimes patients suffering depression will need to be observed more closely to prevent these events from occurring.

[dales]

In daves world, these poor bastards ought to pull themselves up by their psychic boot straps, right?

Major depression is the absolute shits having been diagnosed some 12 years ago after my marriage went into the dumper. I've been on just about every SSRI and SNRI there is and fell into an alcohol/drug-fueled self medication program in 2006-07 whan some other things in my life went tits up.

Depression is FLAT AFFECT, it is not necessarliy sadness. It is a feeling of flatness and lifelessness, of a world that is 2-D and gray as hell.

It's misery with no end in sight....suicidal ideation is the background music du jour on a mobius audio tape loop.

And that's the way it is.

[oldr_n_wsr]

"At risk" of suicide? What an odd turn of phrase. You either choose to do it or you don't. There is no "risk" about it.

Many (most) people contamplate suicide long before putting a gun, a handful of pills, a bottle or an exhaust hose in their mouth. You should attend an "Open" AA discussion (Open meetings may be attended by non-alcoholics) or any Al Anon meeting and see/hear for yourself.

[Jarlaxle]

Pass. If (when) I decide to check out, I'm just doing it.