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Suicide rates for middle age (45-64) people are higher than all other age groups except people age sixty-five to seventy-five, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report also showed that suicide rates among women age 45 to 64 increased nearly 60 percent between the years 2000-2016 as reported in a recent Wall Street Journal article.
Dissatisfaction with Life
Psychologists report that substance abuse, loneliness, financial problems and mental illness, as well as relationship issues, can increase suicide rates. But the single largest contributing factor to increasing middle age suicide rates is life satisfaction (or life dissatisfaction if you prefer).
Depression and increased stress are particularly high in the middle age group. Balancing multiple obligations within several capacities can lead to despondency, a loss of control, and a general feeling of being overloaded.
Five Common Stressors
According to a 2016 study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the five most common stressors linked to suicide among middle age adults are: problems with intimate partners, job and finances, health issues, family problems and criminal and legal issues.
Untreated Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Substance Abuse, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and other mental disorders over time can explode in the later years of forty to seventy.
Isolation and withdrawal and death of a spouse or child can also be large risk factors. Social connections is one of the biggest antidotes to suicide.
Help Is Out There
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that those in need call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Another option is to chat online with a professional at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org Both are free and confidential and will connect people in need of help to a qualified counselor in their area.
This report is not a diagnosis. We hope this information can guide you toward improving your life.
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