Keep mental health issues front and center
Taking one's own life, it has been said, is a permanent solution to temporary problems. Maybe that's true sometimes. But what's more true is that often it is the result of mental and emotional illness that has not been properly diagnosed or treated.
It is difficult — even for many who are struggling to get by but are otherwise mentally and emotionally healthy — to understand how someone could choose to give up the precious gift of life. But suicide knows no boundaries. It leaves deep, lasting rivers of pain that run for generations. It cuts across all societal lines, wreaking havoc among rich and poor, black and white, male and female, in the families of CEOs and janitors.
And it's getting worse. According to The New York Times, a federal data survey has found that suicide in the United States has surged to the highest levels in nearly 30 years. By far, the biggest jump was the rate for women in the 45-64 age range, where the rate increased 63 percent. It is up for men in that same age range by 43 percent. Overall, the national rate is up by 24 percent.
Here's what's also worrisome: When people hear news like this, it can lead to more suicides. The National Institute of Mental Health warns that news about suicide can lead to "so-called suicide contagion, in which exposure to the mention of suicide within a person's family, peer group or in the media can lead to an increase in suicides," according to The New York Times.
That makes prevention even more difficult.
But no one really has a good handle on what has caused the increase. There are a lot of anecdotal things that come to mind. For many, the quality of life is in decline. The economy is still not back to a healthy state. Health issues emerge and the costs can be financially catastrophic.
Casting a wider net, perhaps the rise of social media and the decline in actual social interaction in real world relationships plays a role. Who can say. People adapt to a changing world in different ways than others.
Increases in prescription medication addictions and heroin use can't help. The growing realization among many workers that the retirement years ahead with no company pension aren't going to be so golden after all has to play a part. Marriage rates have been declining, while divorce rates have risen.
Alone, broke and facing retirement with a looming health issue would be tough. Facing that while watching everyone else's perfect life on Facebook could easily lead one to a bad emotional state.
But whatever might have led to this dramatic increase in suicide, we are certain of one thing: We, as a society, must respond by making awareness and care of mental health issues a greater priority.
Terrorism, mass shootings and workplace violence are increasing worries. Now, we find that suicide rates are increasing. The common thread is unmistakable. Mental health care cannot keep taking a back seat to other societal issues. More must be done to address this issue that, in one way or another, affects us all.