Suicide Rates Are Rising, But Nobody Really Knows Why

Suicide rates appear to be at all-time highs, with the latest research suggesting rates are one-third higher than they were in 1999. Among people ages 16 through 64, the rate of suicide climbed from about 10 per 100,000 to 14 per 100,000 people. That’s a significant increase during a period of time where, by all outward measures, stigma about mental health issues and depression has been significantly decreasing. More than ever, it is safe and people are encouraged to talk about — and seek help for — a mental health concern. So why this significant rise in the suicide rate? Thoughts of suicide are usually a serious, often un-diagnosed symptom of clinical depression. For some, these thoughts turn into devising a plan and even making an attempt. People who die by suicide are usually suffering from depression and aren’t getting adequate — or in some cases, any — treatment for it. People who have been unsuccessful in dying by suicide say they usually immediately regretted having tried, because it really is a permanent solution to a transient emotional state. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, 54% of Americans who died by suicide had no known mental disorder diagnosis. It could be that the person simply never saw a healthcare or mental health professional in order to be diagnosed. It could also be indicative that not all suicidal thoughts occur in the context of a mental illness. Experts are hard-pre...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens General Mental Health and Wellness Policy and Advocacy Psychology Suicide Depression suicidal rate Source Type: blogs