Posted on 09/01/2010 7:08:59 AM PDT by KeyLargo
the times
Suicide striking elderly, middle aged
By Bob Kasarda bob.kasarda@nwi.com, (219) 548-4345 | Posted: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 12:00 am
VALPARAISO | Karen Lawrence said while she did not recognize it at the time, her older brother, Ken Stratton, displayed many of the classic signs of an impending suicide.
He had stopped taking his antidepressant medication and twice attempted to take his life before following through by hanging himself Oct. 6, 2006.
Just months away from his 45th birthday, Stratton was about to join an emerging group of 45- to 54-year-olds who are at particularly high risk for suicide nationally, according to information provided by Steve Butera, a member of the Northwest Indiana Suicide Prevention Council.
The group at the highest risk in this country are white men 80 years or older, Butera said. The suicide rate among this group is six times the overall rate and three times as high as black men the same age, Butera said.
Just one of the 19 suicides in Porter County so far this year involved someone (a man) 80 or older, yet 10 others were 45 or older, according to the coroner's office.
Lake County reported two men and one woman older than 80 among its 39 suicides so far this year. Another 19 of those individuals were 45 or older.
The number of suicides in both counties are on track this year to fall short of recent highs as Sunday's start to National Suicide Prevention Week approaches.
The high rate of suicide among 45- to 54-year-olds is attributed to stress factors such as job loss, as well as alcohol and substance abuse, Butera said. Men in this group are at particular risk because they are not socialized to seek help.
"So they're sitting there on their own and that's no good," he said.
More elderly men are at risk because of all the changes they are facing, including declining health and mobility, financial concerns and loss of loved ones, Butera said.
The elderly tend to die more often as a result of suicide attempts because they use more lethal methods, such as firearms, hangings and poison, he said.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that while about 90 people take their lives each day in the United States, another 2,300 attempt to do so.
The local suicide council, which was formed a few years ago as part of a statewide effort that brought together for the first time various individuals and entities across Porter, Lake, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper counties, is focusing on this older population as part of its third annual conference set for Nov. 4 at Purdue University Calumet's Alumni Hall.
Suicide Prevention Council member Sandy Appleby said the group offers training for what are referred to as "gatekeepers" or those in a position of detecting warning signs of suicide.
This group of "gatekeepers" includes physicians and nurses, who are treating those suffering from depression or other forms of mental illness, she said.
Appleby described suicide as a journey and said it is like floating down a river that starts flowing more quickly and pulling away the security of flotation devices such as family, faith and job.
"It's the factors of one's life that keep us well," she said.
ObamaNomics driving people to despair.
” while she did not recognize it at the time”
??
He tried twice before, and she did not realize it at the time?
Obama’s Hopeium is waaring off?
More evidence of how younger Americans have gotten a lot lazier and sloppier than their elders. Want something done right? Go to an older person.
Obama Still Baffled by Economy’s Downward Spiral
Tuesday August 31, 2010
As the nation’s growth rate continues to decline, President Obama has taken out his economic toolbox and ... blamed Republicans and his own Democratic Congress
President Barack Obama’s “Summer of Recovery” may slowly be turning into his “Fall of Discontent” as primary voters continue to identify the nation’s poor economic health as their top concern.
http://usconservatives.about.com/b/2010/08/31/obama-still-baffled-by-economys-downward-spiral.htm
Just 10 years ago, we all took turns checking on elderly neighbors, today I'm the only one left doing it.
I have talked to some older folks and many say they are glad to be near the end so they won't have to live through what is coming although they worry about their grandchildren. Many are financially secure enough that they are not worried about themselves and think the worst is several years down the road yet.
It could be that those committing suicide have the same thoughts, but are financially on the edge and are giving up...
There is a huge fear about losing independence as you age, it might not take too much more to push someone over the edge. Probably the suicides are Widows/Widowers and do not have very close family bonds.
Private Sector Unexpectedly Cuts 10,000 Jobs in August
By Tom Granahan
Published September 01, 2010
| FOXBusiness
Suicide striking? I thought people did it to themselves?
Being wiped out in late 2008, a future laden with utopian, socialist BS, knowing that some of these issues from this regime are irreversible. Being out of work after 25 years at the same job or the same work. Certainly the age pointed out in this article would lend these thoughts some credence.
I’d guess the cause is more that the fabric of society is unraveling. Families are spreading out more and more. Often there is no support system to replace it, or the one that does exist is also older and experiencing their own struggles.
Whereas I’d like to be able to blame the government, I blame the church. No matter what our government does to us, the church should always be there for us. This simply isn’t the case.
What I didn't see mentioned was the lack of any spiritual foundation in many peoples lives. A lot of people in this age group ran around chasing Oprah new age religion crap and found themselves empty at the end of the day.
The group at the highest risk in this country are white men 80 years or older, Butera said. The suicide rate among this group is six times the overall rate and three times as high as black men the same age, Butera said.”
Mark Twain called it “the wanton insult of old age” and it hits men pretty hard at this age. Don’t discount how disgusted many are by watching the country many of them bled for sliding into the toilet, ether.
“” while she did not recognize it at the time”
??
He tried twice before, and she did not realize it at the time?”
Unbelievable, isn’t it? I’d be depressed, too, if I had a sister that was as clueless as his!
Stop freeting. This is ‘the plan’ on page 1629, section 17, part 22, subsection B.
That was my first thought. For some people, not much to look forward to. They lost a lot of their net worth in the market crash, they lost their job as a result of the continuing recession, they are not now or in the future able to afford mandated health insurance, social security is not solvent. probably these people see no hope.
The answer, of course, is what many of our retired are doing. Joining the tea party movement. It is out future.
There is one who does come to steal & to kill - DO NOT LISTEN TO HIS LIES.
I don’t think you’re making light of it at all. This is a perfectly normal reaction of people. Their life’s wealth has been destroyed. All that they have worked for, for decades, is gone; either via their homes, or savings. They are now learning that they are too old to be “employable.” While not a desirous reaction, it’s quite normal.
When people realize they are going to die in deep debt or leaving nearly pennies to their heirs, they do foolish things.
I HATE THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS NITWIT ADMINISTRATION.
Your point was made but, as in everything, there are exceptions such as my 20-year-old nephew who took his life by stepping in front of a speeding train 7 years ago. A life-long trauma to his family, especially to my sister, his mother.
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