Baby Boomer Suicide Rates Up Sharply

[Blackjack200]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/health/suicide-rate-rises-sharply-in-us.html?_r=0

Some of the comments to the article are just heartbreaking.

I don't know what the answer is, I don't know if there are any answers, but it just seems like being smart and wiling to work hard just isn't enough anymore in many cases.

I worry about all my cousins in their mid 20s with no jobs and tons of college debt.

 

[shortylickens]

Clinton, Bush, and Obama fucked them all over. And Reagan didnt do much to help at all.

Not surprising.

 

[Blackjack200]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what any of them would have done differently to change this. This seems structural.

 

[shortylickens]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what any of them would have done differently to change this. This seems structural.

They wouldnt have helped. Thats my point.
Everything the last few presidents have done is related to massive debt inflation, which is gonna screw everyone who tried to make a life for themselves.

 

[Doppel]

Depression, and potentially suicide, are one of those things that seem difficult to empathize with until one is in that situation. Of course suicide represents a tiny minority of depressed people, but one of the comments in the article spoke of a lady who'd lost her husband and went to France, and found that nobody there cared about her job. One's identity in the US is heavily related to their job. It's also why we work so much.

Another article said a new labor movement is needed, and I agree.

Look at this: Wealth Inequality in America, Perception vs Reality

Isn't that just a little fucking absurd? I mean really? Yes, it is, and I say this despite my household income well above median. The disparity of wealth in the US really is ludicrous.

 

[soundforbjt]

Clinton, Bush, and Obama fucked them all over. And Reagan didnt do much to help at all.

Not surprising.

Actually, Clinton did the least damage of the above, spending wise.

 

[shortylickens]

Actually, Clinton did the least damage of the above.

Thats not really something to be proud of.

 

[soundforbjt]

Depression, and potentially suicide, are one of those things that seem difficult to empathize with until one is in that situation. Of course suicide represents a tiny minority of depressed people, but one of the comments in the article spoke of a lady who'd lost her husband and went to France, and found that nobody there cared about her job. One's identity in the US is heavily related to their job. It's also why we work so much.

Another article said a new labor movement is needed, and I agree.

Look at this: Wealth Inequality in America, Perception vs Reality

Isn't that just a little fucking absurd? I mean really? Yes, it is, and I say this despite my household income well above median. The disparity of wealth in the US really is ludicrous.

The worse since the 1920's.

 

[irishScott]

Makes sense. They grew up during what could be considered America's golden age. They were spoiled, complacent, and now things are worse and more than a few of them can't handle it.

 

[soundforbjt]

Thats not really something to be proud of.

Considering that most Conservatives consider Reagan a "god" and Clinton as dirt, it's pretty good...

 

[irishScott]

Considering that most Conservatives consider Reagan a "god" and Clinton as dirt, it's pretty good...

Kinda sad that "slightly less stupid" now qualifies as "pretty good."

 

[zsdersw]

Considering that most Conservatives consider Reagan a "god" and Clinton as dirt, it's pretty good...

"All Millard Fillmore schools are now Ronald Reagan. The Mississippi River is now the Mississippi Reagan."

 

[Attic]

Depression, and potentially suicide, are one of those things that seem difficult to empathize with until one is in that situation. Of course suicide represents a tiny minority of depressed people, but one of the comments in the article spoke of a lady who'd lost her husband and went to France, and found that nobody there cared about her job. One's identity in the US is heavily related to their job. It's also why we work so much.

Another article said a new labor movement is needed, and I agree.

Look at this: Wealth Inequality in America, Perception vs Reality

Isn't that just a little fucking absurd? I mean really? Yes, it is, and I say this despite my household income well above median. The disparity of wealth in the US really is ludicrous.

Link for the lazy or depressed

It is incredible. Our system skims productivity from the vast majority and gives it to few folks. It does this to a much larger degree than liberals or conservatives are aware of. It should be startling, perhaps depressing.

 

[soulcougher73]

It is what happens when people care more about money and less about people.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/health/suicide-rate-rises-sharply-in-us.html?_r=0

Some of the comments to the article are just heartbreaking.

I don't know what the answer is, I don't know if there are any answers, but it just seems like being smart and wiling to work hard just isn't enough anymore in many cases.

I worry about all my cousins in their mid 20s with no jobs and tons of college debt.

A lot of them grew up with the intentions of manufactuering. Obviously they were not keeping with the times, because that skill is no longer much of a skill. It slowly weened off - and has since become the equivalency to McDonalds.

Very simple in this world: Adapt or Die. Many have chosen the die route since they refuse to accept that they can learn other skills that have grown.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Actually, Clinton did the least damage of the above, spending wise.

Sit on the toilet with an iPad while getting a BJ from your interns as the President and you could look good during the Dot com era. derp derp.

 

[soundforbjt]

Sit on the toilet with an iPad while getting a BJ from your interns as the President and you could look good during the Dot com era. derp derp.

History major at a conservative university?

 

[woolfe9998]

The article lists a number of possible reasons but offers no definitive conclusions. You guys can speculate all you want that it's the national debt or what some POTUS or other did or didn't do, whatever is ideologically convenient for you. However, the reality is we just do not know.

 

[Attic]

Just because we don't know definitely what caused it does not relieve the suicide rate fom reflecting poorly on this time period for the country. We know a positive force didn't drive an uptick in suicide rates.

 

[woolfe9998]

Just because we don't know definitely what caused it does not relieve the suicide rate fom reflecting poorly on this time period for the country. We know a positive force didn't drive an uptick in suicide rates.

Perhaps, but the reason could be as simple and stupid as more deadly prescription drugs being available means more people commit suicide on impulse. Or maybe it's a combination of things. Maybe it's related in some way to the policies of this or that elected official or maybe not. Who knows.

 

[Doppel]

Link for the lazy or depressed

It is incredible. Our system skims productivity from the vast majority and gives it to few folks. It does this to a much larger degree than liberals or conservatives are aware of. It should be startling, perhaps depressing.

Oops, thanks, I meant to include that link. In summary: People have a view on how the distribution of wealth is, a view on how it should be (less biased than it is), and finally there is the reality which is WAY off how people think it is or should be.

 

[IronWing]

The baby boomers have been forever killing themselves. When they were teens it was a teen suicide epidemic. When they were young adults it was young adult suicide epidemic. Now it's a geezer suicide epidemic. Biggest bunch of attention craving lemmings ever.

 

[woolfe9998]

Oops, thanks, I meant to include that link. In summary: People have a view on how the distribution of wealth is, a view on how it should be (less biased than it is), and finally there is the reality which is WAY off how people think it is or should be.

If we're going to posit uneven wealth distribution as a reason for depression/suicide then we need to know the actual living standards. Wealth distribution becoming more uneven could mean that everyone's standard of living improved but the wealthy improved more than the rest. In which case it's a poor explanation for depression/suicides.

Bottom line is people may commit suicide because they're not doing well but no one is going to commit suicide over a macro-economic statistic like what is pictured in that link.

 

[nextJin]

It probably has something to do with an entire generation realizing that their entitlement fucked over their children and grandkids.

 

[FalseChristian]

Over 1,000,000 people commit suicide every year and countless millions attempt it. I know all about it. I attempted suicide once and came within a ball's hair of succeeding. I'm now taking Abilify, Prozac, Ativan and Zyprexa and I'm much happier now even though I'm poor. Depression is a medical problem and has nothing to do with one's position in life usually.