(North) America's suicide epidemic worsens

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | January 11, 2002 | Glenn Sacks

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

People who commit suicide thing *only* of themselves. Sick.

That's not always true. Very often, they're thinking that their loved ones would be better off without them.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

I might as well be childless, given that my daughter turned eighteen in 1992 and has not chosen to speak to me--but after seventeen years of the mother telling her that the "sperm donor" is a two-headed ogre, I don't blame her.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"Does this mean that, per capita, suicides have increased or that other causes of death have decreased?

According to US and Canadian statistics, suicide is on the increase among young men, while on the decrease or stabile among young women. 34, and 39, and 148

[Osinski]

"Methinks"

Doubtful.

[Osinski]

My condolences on the loss of your cousin. May he rest in peace.

[Redcloak]

I asked the question because the "8th leading cause of death" line is the only part of the article that even hints at a statistical analysis. There is no mention of any increase, for the population as a whole, in the suicide rate per 100,000. The numbers shown, by a FReeper rather than the author, for teen suicides do not suggest a statistically significant change in the rate for teens. The time period shown, in fact, may mask a decrease in that rate over the last few years.

This article should not be mistaken for science. The author has made a few hysterical claims but has failed to provide any evidence in support of those claims. The one statement about suicide as the "8th leading cause of death" is misleading since we don't know anything about the rates for the modes of death that it has "surpassed" on that list; is suicide up or are the others down?

[Harrison Bergeron]

"Perhaps us evil Christian males should pick a suitable date en masse--Father's Day might be a good one, call the TV station, and have a mass immolation of ourselves on the courthouse steps. Do this across the country, in every city and town, and maybe the body politic will rise as one and say "ENOUGH!"

Anybody who's followed Family Court issues w/r to fathers for very long has seen this expression of frustration pop up more than once by men who've been "through the mill.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"There is no mention of any increase, for the population as a whole, in the suicide rate per 100,000. The numbers shown, by a FReeper rather than the author, for teen suicides do not suggest a statistically significant change in the rate for teens. The time period shown, in fact, may mask a decrease in that rate over the last few years. "

It's a newspaper article. Reporters are notoriously bad at reporting on science, preferring to rely on the hackneyed comparisons you pointed out. Based on everything I've read, the anecdotes relayed in the story paint a much more accurate picture than the statistics... but the statistics, though sloppy, have their basis in fact as well.

The data to which the FReeper referred came from here, and they, in turn, came straight from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services website.

[gwynapnudd]

A distraught father struggling with overdue child support obligations and adverse family court decisions
The only thing that surprises me is that more of these "Court" suicides don't take the lawyer and the judge with them.

[Harrison Bergeron]

Incredulity is a typical response to suicide disparity between men and women. The other typical response is "Yeah? So?"

It's only men, right?

[riley1992]

I am very sorry to hear that. Were the two of you once married?

[Dr. Good Will Hunting]

Incredulity is a typical response to suicide disparity between men and women. The other typical response is "Yeah? So?" It's only men, right?

For all to whom this is addressed:

1. Why the incredulity?

2. Why the "Yeah? So?" attitude.

Both unquestionably exist. Why?

Please post replies inclusive of in-depth sociocultural analysis within a comprehensive American historical framework, and various pertinent acculturated/inculcated psychological dimensions to the questions.

So, I'll check back later.

[Dr. Good Will Hunting]

See #173 this thread...

[Dr. Good Will Hunting]

See #173, this thread...

[Brad’s Gramma]

Now WHY was that necessary?

[Dr. Good Will Hunting]

Now WHY was that necessary?

It was not necessary.

[Dr. Good Will Hunting]

In that post, I quoted a reaction referenced earlier by Harrison Bergeron: that when confronted by the fact that men commit suicide much more often than women do, people are either incredulous/disbelieving, or are like, "Well, whatever, it's just men." Simply put, men are regarded as disposable compared to women. Their parenting roles, their rights, their very lives. I find that criminally objectionable, as no lesser value should be placed on women over men, or men over women.

[Brad’s Gramma]

My answer, to your post #178.....I agree with you that it is hideous to place more of a value over a woman's life than a man's. God made us all equal, in His sight. The liberal mindset in this country has now changed that, hasn't it? And to whose advantage? NO ONE!!!!!

I have absolutely NO CLUE as to how it feels to be a man, going through a divorce, the kids taken, etc., and I won't claim to know. I do know what it feels like on this end, having been abandoned by a man when you have 2 small toddlers. BUT, that does NOT change it!

Suicide was NEVER an option with me. NEVER. With God's help, you pick up the pieces and go forward. Goodness, to have taken MY life would have left the kids where?????

I'm wondering, how many people on this thread who have been SO adamant with their beliefs, are pro-choice.

Folks, in my lifetime, I've known of 3 people who've committed suicide. And left behind children. One a man, the others were women. In two of the cases, the children FOUND THEIR DEAD PARENT. It was NOT easy for the children, as you can well imagine. It WAS selfish on their part to have done that. I don't know how desperate they were since I'm not God, but good grief, if that's what they wanted to do, how's about doing this somewhere where at least your family won't find you?

Excluding medical stuff, of which I'm NO authority, I'll stand with saying it's selfish. Male OR Female.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Yes.