Middle-Aged Suicides Grew with Great Recession

by John Michaelson/TNS

AUSTIN, Texas. – There’s been a significant increase in suicides among middle-aged and older adults, and it appears a portion of the rise can be attributed to the Great Recession.

A new study shows that suicide rates in the U.S. for those aged 40 to 64 rose sharply from 2007 to 2010, and external economic factors were often present, such as job loss or home foreclosure.

Those financial struggles often impact other areas of people’s lives, according to Merily Keller, suicide prevention master trainer with the Mental Health America of Texas.

“The study shows us that relative to other age groups, that we have had an increased proportion, an increased rate of middle-aged suicides and older suicides, and that’s of concern for us in Texas,” she states.

Nationally, the number of people who die by suicide is now more than 40,000 per year, including about 2,500 in Texas, with men about four times as likely as women to take their own lives.

In addition to the pressure from financial, legal and relationship issues, Dan Reidenberg, executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, says the vast majority of those who die by suicide have substance-abuse problems or underlying mental health issues, such as untreated depression.

“So we need people to recognize when somebody is really struggling,” he stresses. “When their sleep patterns are off. When their eating patterns are off. When they’re withdrawing from normal activities. And when they talk about things such as ‘My family would be better off without me’ or ‘My friends don’t seem to care if I’m around anymore.’ “

Those who are contemplating suicide or know someone who is can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.