The graph compares 1999 to 2010. Those years were primarily dominated by a nation at war and economic hardship.
The nation's discourse also changed during that time. The 'tone' of the country because more harsh and heartless. The culture of fear and violence also has to be considered with this statistic. A culture of violence 'gives permission' for suicide.
By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer
May 2, 2013
Updated: May 2, 2013 2:04pm
NEW YORK (AP) — The suicide rate among middle-aged Americans (click here) climbed a startling 28 percent in a decade, a period that included the recession and the mortgage crisis, the government reported Thursday.
The trend was most pronounced among white men and women in that age group. Their suicide rate jumped 40 percent between 1999 and 2010.
But the rates in younger and older people held steady. And there was little change among middle-aged blacks, Hispanics and most other racial and ethnic groups.
Why did so many middle-aged whites — that is, those who are 35 to 64 years old — take their own lives?...American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (click here)
CDC Statistics (click here)
Mortality
All suicides
- Number of deaths: 38,364
- Deaths per 100,000 population: 12.4
- Cause of death rank: 10
Firearm suicides
- Number of deaths: 19,392
- Deaths per 100,000 population: 6.3
Suffocation suicides
- Number of deaths: 9,493
- Deaths per 100,000 population: 3.1
Poisoning suicides
- Number of deaths: 6,599
- Deaths per 100,000 population: 2.1
