Suicide Rates Rise Sharply in U.S.
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Suicide rates among middle-aged Americans have risen sharply in the past
decade, prompting concern that a generation of baby boomers who have
faced years of economic worry and easy access to prescription
painkillers may be particularly vulnerable to self-inflicted harm.
More people now die of suicide than in car accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published the findings in Friday’s issue
of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In 2010 there were 33,687
deaths from motor vehicle crashes and 38,364 suicides.
Suicide has typically been viewed as a problem of teenagers and the
elderly, and the surge in suicide rates among middle-aged Americans is
surprising.
From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans ages 35 to 64 rose
by nearly 30 percent, to 17.6 deaths per 100,000 people, up from 13.7.
Although suicide rates are growing among both middle-aged men and women,
far more men take their own lives. The suicide rate for middle-aged men
was 27.3 deaths per 100,000, while for women it was 8.1 deaths per
100,000.
The most pronounced increases were seen among men in their 50s, a group
in which suicide rates jumped by nearly 50 percent, to about 30 per
100,000. For women, the largest increase was seen in those ages 60 to
64, among whom rates increased by nearly 60 percent, to 7.0 per 100,000.
Suicide rates can be difficult to interpret because of variations in the
way local officials report causes of death. But C.D.C. and academic
researchers said they were confident that the data documented an actual
increase in deaths by suicide and not a statistical anomaly. While
reporting of suicides is not always consistent around the country, the
current numbers are, if anything, too low.
“It’s vastly underreported,” said Julie Phillips, an associate professor
of sociology at Rutgers University who has published research on rising
suicide rates. “We know we’re not counting all suicides.”
The reasons for suicide are often complex, and officials and researchers
acknowledge that no one can explain with certainty what is behind the
rise. But C.D.C. officials cited a number of possible explanations,
including that as adolescents people in this generation also posted
higher rates of suicide compared with other cohorts.
“It is the baby boomer group where we see the highest rates of suicide,”
said the C.D.C.’s deputy director, Ileana Arias. “There may be
something about that group, and how they think about life issues and
their life choices that may make a difference.”
The rise in suicides may also stem from the economic downturn over the
past decade. Historically, suicide rates rise during times of financial
stress and economic setbacks. “The increase does coincide with a
decrease in financial standing for a lot of families over the same time
period,” Dr. Arias said.
Another factor may be the widespread availability of opioid drugs like
OxyContin and oxycodone, which can be particularly deadly in large
doses.
Although most suicides are still committed using firearms, officials
said there was a marked increase in poisoning deaths, which include
intentional overdoses of prescription drugs, and hangings. Poisoning
deaths were up 24 percent over all during the 10-year period and
hangings were up 81 percent.
Dr. Arias noted that the higher suicide rates might be due to a series
of life and financial circumstances that are unique to the baby boomer
generation. Men and women in that age group are often coping with the
stress of caring for aging parents while still providing financial and
emotional support to adult children.
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