Suicide ??

[WalterTrull]

It's being reported that suicide rates are climbing rapidly. Causes? My hunch is that when we focus solely on ourselves, at some point we realize there's nothing substantially there. Life becomes pointless.

 

[Jesster]

Why do you believe that is the cause? As someone who has been suicidal, I'd argue that the trends might be tied more into quality of life for the general populace. At least in the USA, that has been unforgiving lately. The rest of the world can speak for itself, since I haven't lived anywhere else.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

There are too many factors and variables to make generalized statements. We also have a rapidly climbing population, so there is that to consider. There is the stigma of talking about depression and suicide, and still too many who are resistant to the idea that depression is a serious mental disorder. We also are living in a time of social, economic, and political unrest and uncertainty.

 

[WalterTrull]

Why do you believe that is the cause? As someone who has been suicidal, I'd argue that the trends might be tied more into quality of life for the general populace. At least in the USA, that has been unforgiving lately. The rest of the world can speak for itself, since I haven't lived anywhere else.

Not sure I understand doing away with yourself because other people are suffering.

 

[WalterTrull]

There are too many factors and variables to make generalized statements. We also have a rapidly climbing population, so there is that to consider. There is the stigma of talking about depression and suicide, and still too many who are resistant to the idea that depression is a serious mental disorder. We also are living in a time of social, economic, and political unrest and uncertainty.

Too many people - I'll kill myself?? Unrest, uncertainty, better to kill myself?? Depression is pretty much all about "me". Yes, it's serious. Let's talk about it.

 

[Shushersbedamned]

Why do you believe that is the cause? As someone who has been suicidal, I'd argue that the trends might be tied more into quality of life for the general populace. At least in the USA, that has been unforgiving lately. The rest of the world can speak for itself, since I haven't lived anywhere else.

I think you might let the rest of usa to speak for itself too

 

[Shushersbedamned]

I don' believe they are up

 

[Jesster]

Not sure I understand doing away with yourself because other people are suffering.

We might be misunderstanding each other entirely here. That's not what I'm saying.

 

[Sunstone]

One possible factor: American communities continue to become less and less communities. You can't turn to as many people for support today to get you through tough times as you could in the past. The feeling and conviction, "no body gives a damn", is most likely on the rise.

 

[Jesster]

I think you might let the rest of usa to speak for itself too

I'm speaking from my personal experiences in this country, the depression I've fought through, and the observation of trends I've witnessed from people going through the same around me. I can only observe where I live, which is why I'm not including other countries.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Too many people - I'll kill myself?? Unrest, uncertainty, better to kill myself?? Depression is pretty much all about "me". Yes, it's serious. Let's talk about it.

Yes, let's talk. First, the population going up, there are more people so will we have more suicides by default? Is it really a higher rate, or is the rate the same and the numbers going up because there are more people? And, for a history lesson, times of social, political, and economic unrest and uncertainty have lead to people killing themselves. As for depression, telling someone who is depressed, especially to the point of suicidal ideation, that it's "all about me" is an appalling thing to say. Is it "all about me" if someone gets pneumonia? To say depression is "all about me" is to dismiss the entirely to health care and shrug off those who seek as being "all about me."

 

[Shushersbedamned]

Yes, let's talk. First, the population going up, there are more people so will we have more suicides by default? Is it really a higher rate, or is the rate the same and the numbers going up because there are more people? And, for a history lesson, times of social, political, and economic unrest and uncertainty have lead to people killing themselves. As for depression, telling someone who is depressed, especially to the point of suicidal ideation, that it's "all about me" is an appalling thing to say. Is it "all about me" if someone gets pneumonia? To say depression is "all about me" is to dismiss the entirely to health care and shrug off those who seek as being "all about me."

Would that not be a mere number?

I'm not a specialist in English but I understand that rates means procentages.

 

[David T]

It's being reported that suicide rates are climbing rapidly. Causes? My hunch is that when we focus solely on ourselves, at some point we realize there's nothing substantially there. Life becomes pointless.

I have no idea... But I have never met a mentally ill person on the hiking trail asking for money or smokes.... Wierd they seem to be mostly in cities.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Would that not be a mere number?

I'm not a specialist in English but I understand that rates means procentages.

No links or sources where given. It is a question to have answered first. Also, do these numbers include physician assisted suicide/euthanasia?

 

[WalterTrull]

As for depression, telling someone who is depressed, especially to the point of suicidal ideation, that it's "all about me" is an appalling thing to say.

I totally agree. It would be a very ineffective first approach. "You're not alone, let us help." is a much better opening, but eventually "me, me" has got to go.

 

[WalterTrull]

No links or sources where given. It is a question to have answered first. Also, do these numbers include physician assisted suicide/euthanasia?

This matters?

 

[WalterTrull]

One possible factor: American communities continue to become less and less communities. You can't turn to as many people for support today to get you through tough times as you could in the past. The feeling and conviction, "no body gives a damn", is most likely on the rise.

That too.

 

[Nakosis]

It's being reported that suicide rates are climbing rapidly. Causes? My hunch is that when we focus solely on ourselves, at some point we realize there's nothing substantially there. Life becomes pointless.

It's the ultimate in control isn't it?
When your life is out of control, or at least certain aspects of it, it's the one act of finality that takes back complete control.

Life is mostly out of our control. When the fear of this becomes overwhelming for a person suicide is the easy solution.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

And do the statistics include suicide by cop, suicide by driving your car into a bridge abutment at 90+ miles an hour, suicide by "accidental" overdose, suicide by cirrhosis of the liver, etc.?

Certainly in the US, working hard your entire life (to whatever point you're at right now) and finding yourself less well off than your parents at the same point in their lives, having jobs that once appeared to be life-long career choices evaporate around you, having to pull up roots and moving far away from your home to find employment, finding your family bankrupted by having to cover catastrophic costs and lost income through sudden injury or illness...well, none of that could possibly contribute to the increase suicide rates among adults, could it?

That suicide rates have been increasing in the US is not new news...it's been happening, and recognized by public health and social services providers for many years now.

 

[WalterTrull]

Certainly in the US, working hard your entire life (to whatever point you're at right now) and finding yourself less well off than your parents at the same point in their lives, having jobs that once appeared to be life-long career choices evaporate around you, having to pull up roots and moving far away from your home to find employment, finding your family bankrupted by having to cover catastrophic costs and lost income through sudden injury or illness...well, none of that could possibly contribute to the increase suicide rates among adults, could it?

Might. But sounds pretty "me, me" Some say "Poor baby". Some say "Suck it up." My feeling is to try somehow to drop the "me, me". Some do that with religion; some with anti-religion, some with work, some with study, some with chat rooms and forums - whatever works.