Why Are We Killing Ourselves?

by Michelle Says So | November 19, 2008 at 05:00 pm

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According to research, suicide has been on the rise in the last 45 years. Now middle-aged white women are reportedly more at risk for suicide.

Society changes over the last 45 years are obviously a factor for statistical changes in suicide. But we must consider heredity a factor as well. We are not living in a world where we whisper about the "mentally ill uncle". We do not commit people and put them away like animals. This is not "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Next". That's all a joke.

So what drives suicide today? The economy, too much stress, drug or alcohol abuse, family or marital problems? No health care, lonliness, apathy? Too many commercials for Abilify, Zoloft and Paxil, but not enough therapy.

Not enough public acceptance.

Even though in today's world, we may not automatically think a depressed person or someone with a mental illness is "crazy", but I'll just quote this:

"We haven't come a long way, baby..."

WASHINGTON - U.S. suicide rates appear to be on the rise, driven mostly by middle-aged white women, researchers reported on Tuesday.

They found a disturbing increase in suicides between 1999 and 2005 and said the pattern had changed in an unmistakable way — although the reasons behind the change are not clear.

The overall suicide rate rose 0.7 percent during this time, but the rate for white men aged 40 to 64 rose 2.7 percent and for middle-aged women 3.9 percent, the team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found.

..."Historically, suicide-prevention programs have focused on groups considered to be at highest risk — teens and young adults of both genders as well as elderly white men. This research tells us we need to refocus our resources to develop prevention programs for men and women in their middle years."

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States and Baker said the changes are substantial.

"Definitely these are not just little blips," she said in a telephone interview. "We are looking at a big population change."

..."Historically, suicide-prevention programs have focused on groups considered to be at highest risk — teens and young adults of both genders as well as elderly white men. This research tells us we need to refocus our resources to develop prevention programs for men and women in their middle years."

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States and Baker said the changes are substantial.

"Definitely these are not just little blips," she said in a telephone interview. "We are looking at a big population change."

...In September researchers confirmed an 18 percent spike in youth suicides in the United States in 2004 persisted into 2005 after more than a decade of decreases.

And international research published in January found that the young, single, female, poorly educated and mentally ill are all at higher risk of suicide.

According to the World Health Organization, suicide rates have increased by 60 percent in the last 45 years. Depression is the leading cause of suicide.

For more information on mental illness, depression, etc. Visit:

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Suicides have increased 60% in 45 years... Wow

People with depression feel isolated. Loneliness is an epidemic despite population explosion. Lack of connectedness.

Then again our environment is being polluted, air, water and food, which makes us more vulnerable.

Media distorts our picture of what is "normal", often setting high standards to reach.

Corp. America tells us we aren't good enough unless we buy their products and keep buying, even though we have no money, put on credit.

These are things happening all around us these days, but still not everyone goes out and kills themselves.

So why the increase?? I don't think one can pinpoint it to one thing. It is complex, and multilevel.

How to solve the problem? Awareness is key, keep talking, teach interpersonal communication skills in school, and to value everyone in their diversity.

Find a way to express ourselves through art, writing, etc. Though that didn't help Van Gough at the end.

A real tough subject. Never give up. It is about reclaiming our power. You can do it.

Suicides are on the increase, particularly amongst seniors. For those of you reading this that are not senior citizens, just think about what is happening. An individual or a couple work hard all their lives for that day when they can hang up the job title, kick back, and enjoy a life based on hard earned savings and good planning.

Now here come the financial criminals. They apply their liberal perspective and decide that home ownership is still another entitlement. So millions of people who cannot afford mortgage payments and don't deserve loans based on their ability to pay are given loans at very low (sub-prime) interest rates. Many of these people don't even have jobs or steady jobs. Many are illegal immigrants who don't even belong in our country.

The whole thing explodes and suddenly the stock market plunges and folks who were planning on enjoying the fruits of their labor find that the fruits have fallen off the tree and they are now faced with the really strong possibility that they will outlive their savings even if they cut their lifestyle back to the bare essentials.

So there they are with dreams that came from hard work and responsibility crushed by the selfish money manipulators and people who got a temporary benefit of owning a home that they don't deserve.

These seniors are proud people who can't or won't go out and look for hand outs like the "entitlement bunch." They face a life of poverty instead of the life of enjoyment that was carefully planned.

The choice may come down to living a long and difficult life of poverty with all the joys taken away by the greedy money lenders or a peaceful method of self deliverance.

It's something to think about, isn't it?

Sometimes that choice is fairly easy to make.

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