Study: Middle-Age Women Driving Up U.S. Suicide Rate

[almaty 19]

The number of women committing suicide has increased dramatically over the past decade and is driving up the nation's suicide rate as a whole, a new study finds.

The rate of suicide in the United States has risen for the first time in a decade and, for once, middle-age women are being looked at as the culprit driving the increase, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Injury Research and Policy.

The increase in the overall suicide rate between 1999 and 2005 was due primarily to an increase in suicides among whites ages 40-64, with white middle-age women experiencing the largest annual increase, according to the study, which will be published in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The overall suicide rate rose 0.7 percent over the study period, but increased 3.9 percent for middle-age white women and 2.7 percent for white men in the same age group.

“The results underscore a change in the epidemiology of suicide, with middle-aged whites emerging as a new high-risk group,” said study co-author Susan P. Baker, a professor with the Bloomberg School’s Center for Injury Research and Policy, in a news release.

“Historically, suicide prevention programs have focused on groups considered to be at highest risk — teens and young adults of both genders as well as elderly white men," she continued. "This research tells us we need to refocus our resources to develop prevention programs for men and women in their middle years.”

Researchers also found that while firearms remain the predominant method of suicide, the rate of firearm suicides decreased during the study period. Suicide by hanging or suffocation increased markedly with a 6.3 percent annual increase among men, and a 2.3 percent annual increase among women, the authors noted.

Hanging/suffocation accounted for 22 percent of all suicides by 2005, surpassing poisoning at 18 percent, researchers found.

The study's authors said the reasons for the increased suicide rate are not fully understood and that more research is needed

[Peikko 1,575]

I'll take a stab at it. Middle aged women are often primary carers for older relatives as well as their own families. That's a lot of stress if you are pissed off on top of that because you know that the illness could have been lessened/prevented by proper primary health care. The future looks quite bleak if you then realize you might be a burden on your own kids in another 10 years or so...

Just a guess, no statistical data to back this up.

Edited October 21, 2008 by Madame Cleo

[rocks 494]

I'll take a stab at it. Middle aged women are often primary carers for older relatives as well as their own families. That's a lot of stress if you are pissed off on top of that because you know that the illness could have been lessened/prevented by proper primary health care. The future looks quite bleak if you then realize you might be a burden on your own kids in another 10 years or so...

Just a guess, no statistical data to back this up.

i think there could be some substance to that. also, women are becoming more and more "free" to do what they want. look at the rise in binge drinking and smoking amongst women, i think it is higher than with men in both instances.

[Mononoke28 135]

Not only that but get this, not only do people expect them to get an education, a good paying job and be a housewife and mother at the same time. Many of which are single mothers doing everything at once without much help from others. That's a hard pill to swallow.

Diana

[Ilya R. 0]

Also alot of single women in their 40's get alot of depressions etc....

[rocks 494]

Not only that but get this, not only do people expect them to get an education, a good paying job and be a housewife and mother at the same time. Many of which are single mothers doing everything at once without much help from others. That's a hard pill to swallow.

Diana

i totally agree, there is too much pressure. plus they are probably expected to go to the gym 3 days a week to keep in shape.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Wow!

That is mind-boggling.

So sad, so sad....

Like I've said before:

What sensitive person can live in times like these and not be affected?

[Imua 0]

Not only that but get this, not only do people expect them to get an education, a good paying job and be a housewife and mother at the same time. Many of which are single mothers doing everything at once without much help from others. That's a hard pill to swallow.

Diana

And on the other hand, if a woman has not had kids then she is dealing with that decision as well as the effects of menopause (which I am NOT looking forward to.....)

[Mononoke28 135]

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's a catch .22 for sure.

Diana

[bhajishah 4]

Coz MEn arent MEn and women arent women anymore..woman are worriers by nature and have a whole hell of alot to worry about nowdays. and not much help with the chores.. Bismillah hand it over to Allah and be strong!!

[IAMX 3,055]

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. It's a catch .22 for sure.

Diana

Wonder if you purposefully meant that as some irony about "catching .22".

I'm sure a few of them caught a .22.