Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
Sun Archives
More info
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The number for the Nevada Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-877-855-HOPE (4673). More information is available at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Risk factors for suicide include:
- Depression and other mental disorders, or a substance-abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders). More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have these risk factors.
- Prior suicide attempt
- Family history of mental disorder or substance abuse
- Family history of suicide
- Family violence, including physical or sexual abuse
- Firearms in the home, the method used in more than half of suicides
- Incarceration
- Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, such as family members, peers, or media figures.
-- Source: National Institute of Mental Health
Suicide statistics are a grim science, one that dresses data in careful terms, like "attempt-to-completion ratio." That's the number of attempted suicides compared to the number of successful suicides.
Or, more casually, the number of nightmares to horrors. Sometimes it's the coldest calculations that best reveal our most complicated human conditions.
Consider the suicide attempt-to-completion ratio for people 25 and under: For every completed suicide in that group, statistics suggest there are 100-200 attempts. (Not per person, but group-wide.) While many young people may attempt suicide, comparatively few actually kill themselves.
Now consider the ratio for people 65 and older: It's 4:1. Statistically, for every four older adults who attempt suicide, one will die.
That difference between age groups says something significant. Something Jerry Reed, director of the Suicide Prevention and Resource Center in Washington, D.C., summed up neatly during a recent seminar on geriatric suicide at UNLV:
"Older adults are more intent to end their lives when they make that decision."
Now weigh that fact against these statistics: Studies show that almost 60 percent of senior citizens who commit suicide saw their doctor within a month of their death, a quarter told someone they planned to commit suicide, and more than 20 percent experienced a traumatic event just two weeks before they took their own lives.
In most cases, Reed said, "There were signs. I guess that was the bottom line." And where there are signs, there's the possibility of prevention.
Geriatric suicide is another one of those miserable issues that Nevada leads the nation in. The most recent numbers show Nevadans over 60 have the nation's highest suicide rate. (For suicide across all age groups, Nevada is listed second in the country, after Alaska.)
Researchers have pinpointed the things that often lead to depression in seniors. Most are side effects of aging: isolation, bereavement, reduced ability, illness, pain. In one study, almost half of the seniors living in long-term care facilities reported serious depression.
Moreover, suicide attempts in late life are often more lethal: Elderly people are frail, and more likely to die. They are more isolated, and less likely to be rescued. Moreover, as Reed noted, they're more "planful and determined." When they make the decision, they commit.
Reed studied states with the highest geriatric suicide rates—Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon are the top four—and found three things in common: high divorce rates, high gun ownership and few people per square mile. Isolation, access and isolation.
Of course, elderly suicide has implications beyond Nevada—it's predicted that by 2050, 22 percent of the world's population will be over 60. That's up double from 2007. What's also significant is that small interventions have been shown to greatly reduce senior suicide rates. One research project, in Italy, found that simply calling seniors on the phone and addressing their isolation reduced the predicted suicide rate by 70 percent. Another study found that mandatory waiting periods when purchasing firearms (guns are the most popular method of suicide for Nevada's aged, followed by poison) also reduced the senior suicide rate.
These are small things. Little changes with big impact. And perhaps that's what makes the high senior suicide rate so troubling to people like Reed.
"Is it a brighter tomorrow? Are you looking forward to next week?" he said. "These are things that really matter."
— Originally published in Las Vegas Weekly
they've worked all their lives to have a nice retirement then liberals come in and take all their money away in taxes.
reject: my advice to you is to start drinking heavily.
"Is it a brighter tomorrow? Are you looking forward to next week?" he said. "These are things that really matter."
Right. Tell a potential suicide to have a nice day. Like that's really going to make a difference.
More like this age group are the baby boomers, arguably the most progressive and successful generation this country ever had, who now face their senior years in a world gone completely to crap. After the recent depression wiped out their life savings and all other assets, they now face the rest of their lives dependent on Social Security which won't even pay the rent. If they can even get it. And that's if they're healthy.
Personally, I long ago came to terms with the fact life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair filled with brief moments of false hope in an ever-darkening universe. Helps me deal with it.
"If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your [stuff], then YOU DESERVE IT" -- Frank Zappa
rejecto: I enjoy your postings! Keep them coming.
rejco - your postings are funny but all about 180 degrees off - a sign of some serious issues - you should go get some meds - you could have a better life - oh, and have a good day! :-)
The idea is to adopt an attitude of gratitude, thanking Gd for our blessing, sharing with others and keeping active. Yesterday was a terrific day. The Golf and then the Superbowl. We were at the Red Zone with others hooting and hollering, having fun. Its just a little deal but needed to stay away from Depression. Getting out in the sun shine, walking and praying helps too.
lol...you don't think finances plays a part in your mental well-being?
haha!
MANY seniors get depressed because they live at poverty level. they've been taxed to oblivion over their lifetimes. they're forced to work at burger king at 68 to pay for the 4 kids of someone that's 28.
it's not right.
killerb
Good post and unfortunately, probably true. Yeah, no one promised us that our older years will be filled with prosperity and that we would have everything, but so many are in situations that most likely they NEVER thought they would be in through no fault of their own. The 60 year olds are in a real hard place - many have lost their jobs, can't find another one because of being "too old" and/or "too experienced". Not old enough to retire and if they lost their 401K money and/or savings just trying to stay afloat, retiring early won't help. Let's not even talk about health insurance.
It's a sad situation. I wouldn't doubt that, in Las Vegas, gambling was a factor in some cases. Nothing to do but go to the casino. Perhaps their only venue to be around people, but yet NOT be around people. Then one day, they realize they have nothing left - no money, no friends, no family. This is an off-the-wall theory, but again - a possible factor in some cases.
Wow, all the advice for these older people from such compassionate conservatives. It's a pity Medicare is keeping them alive so much longer to regret the taxes they have paid. The Republicans are right, they are being Un-American by not dying sooner.
The same holds true with seniors in south Florida. The retiree's move to a warmer climate, one or the other dies and the remaining is left to fend for themselves with no family or outside support. They now have a house or condo that they were paying some sort of mortgage on and a car and most likley healthcare bills. Now turn this around and look at the numbers is areas of the Northeast, Mid West or the Northwest were you have a stable setting for seniors because they are still in their original (paid off) homes with support from family members.
There are many books and studies done since the early 1980's documenting this unfortunate decision made by people who look for warmer weather but dont look at what may happen when faced with real life issues.
pele
the republicans want to do away with social security.
as bush said: " we don't need social security...invest your retirement in 401k's..."
" wall street would never cheat you or steal your money..."
ha,ha,ha.
@ Killer B: Agree 100%. Too many people telling us stuff that isn't true. By the time folks get old, they see that the carrot is attached to a string, and the string to a stick, and that the holder of the stick is looking for a new sucker.
Nevada has the highest Suicide rate because all of those unfortunate souls come here from somewhere else, act like fools in the casinos, lose all of their money, end up on the street, then take the easy way out. Lets put a stop to all outside immigration into our state both domestic and from other countries, shrink our population back down to manageable levels, and then we can start to fix our problems here..
GrandmaCrabby :
You know I respect your comments. However, I don't believe we need border guards, but I believe we need to protect our state and it's sensitive economy. Time to keep the corporate carpetbaggers out, and keep Nevadans working first before work permits are issued to domestic and Intl. immigrants. This way the incentive to move here for outsiders is lessened.
What this country and the rest of the world need is a right to die with dignity.
This would solve the suicide problem and give people the same option that we have given our pet animals.
It is so interesting that we can logically decide end of life decision for our pets.
But, we it comes to people, Right to lifers claim we would not make the same altruistic choice for ourselves.
THis is just stupid.
BTW one Harvard medical school study showed that almost 30% of all health care dollars are spent on terminal patients, who don't have the right to die with dignity.
Gee, think there is any health care industry behind this propaganda?
like a true liberal, grandma refuses to admit that taxes DO hurt the middle class.
an extra $30 or $40 per paycheck each week over 30 or 40 years of working really adds up with compounded interest. i know that's a tough concept for most liberals to understand, but that amount that you stole from them would be enough in the bank for many of these seniors to have a very nice safety net.
the sun is a liberal paper, so of course they'd never point out the financial aspect of mental health.
GrandmaCrabby Rocks!!
"And then greedy bankers and brokers build a financial house of cards that collapses and wipes it all out."
GrannyCrabby -- how true. Check out Elizabeth Warren on this @ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...
For the record, most home foreclosures are unlawful -- the banks lost the notes and can't even prove they own the loans so many are rushing to modify. No Note = No loan = why are the regulators, including Masto's office, letting them get away with it?
As if compulsive gambling has NOTHING to do with the elevated numbers in LV? There are more 60+ peeps living in the very similar city of Phoenix with the same "aging" issues - why not the same numbers there?
liberals = tax those that work to give to those that don't.
period.
and how's your messiah doing? he's been in office for a year and now he realizes he's a failure he's just gone into "blame bush" mode.
pretty easy to say "vote for me...i'll make america great again" then a year later just shrug your shoulders and say "sorry, i can't fix anything because of the mess i was left".
pretty good scam.
i wish i could get a job where the person that did it before me was fired and then i could just walk around all day and say "hey, boss...i'd really like to work today, but...the last guy left such a mess...i can't get anything done".
ya, the banks caused the housing collapse. it had nothing to do with democrats pressuring lenders into making bad loans, huh?
If you think suicides are high now, just wait 'till city center goes belly up !!
if you want to kill yourself go see dr conrad murray
How about this: You're entitled to nothing more or less than what you've earned. Please feel free to die whenever you'd like, but remember it's permanent.
The rest of what everyone else said is meaningless, unless it suggests the above is not true, then it's just wrong.
"liberals = tax those that work to give to those that don't."
What percentage of tax dollars go to welfare? Like close to nothing, two percent maybe?
Kids? They don't work and receive the benefit of the public's largess in the form of a free public education. Should we make them pay as they go?
The retired don't work, is that who you criticize? They paid into social security already, if that's what you're referring to. Is it their fault that they lived longer than was anticipated when the program was designed?
As for the others who don't work: the unemployed? They already paid for their benefits, when they were employed and paid their taxes.
Barr :
If you would like to give me a percentage of your weekly earnings, I'll be more than happy to accept. While your at it you will be REQUIRED to purchase my overpriced health insurance policy. If you fail to do so, you will be branded an enemy of the state, fined, and thrown in jail..Hopey Changey at work...
KillerB?...I almost never judge a book by its "cover" (killer) and I am glad I didn't with you...your posts show logic, reason and wisdom...you are so dead-on correct with this "More like this age group are the baby boomers, arguably the most progressive and successful generation this country ever had, who now face their senior years in a world gone completely to crap"...keep writing please and save me the effort trying to educate the masses...
The problem is that doctors cannot assist elderly folks in making "end of life" decisions. Christians talk about the "Right to Life" but they deny older or severely disabled people the "Right to Die" with dignity.
Grandma Crabby and Environprotector.. I follow your posts and by and large am in agreement with you both. Stevem is an absolute idiot..A John Ensign apologist and someone who must have forgotten George Bush wanted to take seniors social security and require investment in the stock market...how would that have worked out about now? Stevem is a complete imbecile..
Rejco... Your use of the language is highly entertaining and laced with a lot of truth.
Their killing themselves because of poor health, a lack of education, savings, and aggressive investment. We want people to save for their future and they don't have a clue as to what do do with the money they have. They consistently follow the sheep over the cliff with nasdaq stocks they don't understand and risky real estate investments that blow up in their face.
The losses in the current decline plus the tech blow up is equal the the savings of the entire baby boom generation.
Of the 70 million living at or below the poverty level many are seniors who have lost everything because of one finacial blow up after another.
People have no idea how to hedge themselves against bad investment decision that they themselves make or others make for them.
Within 10-15 years almost all hospital bills and about 75% of aggragate medical bills will be paid by govt. if povert keeps rising at anywhere near current levels. In addition people will demand a govt. pension system which provides better indemnification than the average $1000.00 social security check people receive today.
"Their (sic) killing themselves because of poor health, a lack of education"
OMG - too funny!!! LOL LOL hahahahahahaha -
"Their" (misspelled) and "lack of education" in the same sentence... oh, the irony!!!
that's really sad. what's almost as sad is all the idiots on here who like to pretend to be smart but can't differentiate between "there, they're, & their". yeah, you, zippert1. way to call this fool out, Jen.
Anyone who thinks my spelling and grammar have anything to do with the topic really needs smell the roses.
I spent my life doing trust work and financial planning. My wife jokes that I can't even spell my own name even though my education is a lot better than my grammar implies.
If you think anything I have written is not true you better open your eyes and look at demographic, income, health care and poverty stats. in the US. Not pleasant reading.
Have a great night to all!!
Purgatory -- thanx. You call it "educate the masses." I call it messin' with the herd.
"60 percent of senior citizens who commit suicide saw their doctor within a month of their death"
Yeah, that's when the first bills arrived for the $300.00 aspirins!
"like a true liberal, grandma refuses to admit that taxes DO hurt the middle class.
an extra $30 or $40 per paycheck each week over 30 or 40 years of working really adds up with compounded interest. i know that's a tough concept for most liberals to understand, but that amount that you stole from them would be enough in the bank for many of these seniors to have a very nice safety net.
the sun is a liberal paper, so of course they'd never point out the financial aspect of mental health."
STEVEM,
Where you on the Palin/McCain economic team? You can't even fool a blind man. The PON(Party of NO)had 12 years(1981-1993) and 8 years again (2000-2008) to do it right. What became of it is a life of hard work with
Little pay,
No pay raises to keep up with inflation
No pension,
No representation,
No true home ownership,
No home equity,
No reversed mortgage,
No 401K,
No money,
No savings,
No job,
No affordable health care,
No affordable car insurance,
No affordable power utility,
No affordable gasoline,
No affordable housing,
etc.
unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.
Regarding your comment about the Sun being a liberal paper, you sure spend a lot of time reading it.
A lot of older folks I know moved here because they were able to supplement their income working at the Hotels. Some I know just worked to get help on Heath care. Now that is all gone, so is their equity, and they are stuck far from home. maybe their spouse passed on. Some older folks have lost a lot of their pensions . Honestly, its not all that surprising. History will be the judge on who is to blame for this mess, my guess both parties.
That just goes to show you how depressing, this jacked up city is, im getting my a$$ outta here before i turn 45, the economy here will be unbearable in a few years, all of the signs are here now...
Coupe...What you say about compound interest is absolutely true. The reality is people don't know HOW to invest and generate losses that kill overall returns. Plus the domestic savings rate has been awful. When people get extra money most blow it. Tax rates have been slashed over the last couple of decades. This has done nothing to reduce poverty because the savings in tax reduction have been offset by $4 trillion in tech stock losses in 1999-2000 and over $15 trillion in losses in the current fiasco.
There are people in this country who have made huge fortunes and blown them. Look at actors and athletes.
Low taxes are much better than high taxes but the 90 million ageing baby boomers are going to demand benefits that low tax rates will not support.
well, what's "affordable"?
that's a stupid argument.
if you HAVE insurance...you can afford it. it's affordable.
if the lights are on in your house...you can afford it. it's affordable.
no affordable housing? are you KIDDING me? did you not see how many homes were bought in 2000 - 2008.
if you HAVE gas in your car, you can afford it. it's affordable.
am i missing something?
so, unless you lived in a cave and didn't drive for 8 years...you could afford housing, gas, insurance, etc.
i can't afford a porsche. does that mean i should blame obama for that?
i can't afford a private jet. should i blame obama for that? clearly they ARE "affordable" because the people that CAN afford them, BUY them.
i CAN afford a pizza, though...and that's what i had for dinner, so that's "affordable" to me, but maybe not for someone else. that doesn't mean pizza isn't affordable.
All I want to say is KISS MY ASS, CORPORATE AMERICA!
Great, another warmed-over story from the LV Weekly. Is the Sun still in business, or just stealing everything from LV Weekly now?