Suicide Growing Amongst Baby Boomers
Mon, Jun 7, 2010
I was sad to read the story in the New York Times this past weekend, reporting that for the second year in a row now, baby boomers have suffered the highest rate of suicide in the United States. In the past, those 80 and older had been most likely to take their own lives, but since 2006, boomers in the 45-54 year-old range have been killing themselves at a record pace.
CDC.gov shows that the 45-to-54 age group had a suicide rate of 17.6 per every 100,000 people. The second highest was the 75-to-84 age range, with a rate of 16.4, followed by those between 35 and 44, with a 16.3.
What was more saddening to me were the comments that followed the story from around the web:
“This world is rapidly becoming unlivable. I promised my late parents that I would never commit suicide or I’d be making such plans”
-Anonymous
“you know you are destined for a cardboard box to live in or a cheap poorly run nursing home…thats what its like for many of us out there in CorporateAmericaLand” -Anonymous
“One of my neighbors mentioned that she hates to see her social security statement, because her survivor benefits for her young family are more than her current income. She says it means she’s worth more dead than alive.” -Anonymous
I found myself wondering how people in this great generation have found themselves in such misery that they question the value of life. I hope a site like babyboomers.com succeeds in its mission to unite baby boomers. It is more important now than it’s ever been.
We interviewed over 100 rural Oregon Boomers for input on a residential community we were putting together for the State SDSO. They all had these goals in common. To lead a productive life, be part of a supportive community they can contribute to, work with thier fellow residents to be as selfsuficiant as possible, be part of the solution in these challenging and leave try to leave the world a little batter then they found it. As the twisted state workers make long term care funding for nursing homes their priority thet grow more out of touch with the clients ther’re paid to serve. Everyone, man and woman alike, considered a nursing home equal to a life prison term and that Oregon’s “Death with dignity law” was a private choice they would make when the time was right. If you’ve every worked in or had loved ones end their days in one of those “care” facilities you would understand why keep that option as theirs to choose. Exersizing that last right of personal power, on their terms, at their time. No wasting away with bed sores and diapers, hoping the aid doesn’t steal your pain medication when kills the lights and leaves you alone for the long hours until the morning shift arrives 7 hours later. No freedom to choose what and when you eat or bathe. Literally killing time waiting for the end to come. God I understand the reasons they decided to choose their own fates. Then we all laugh and say hey man, sex, drugs, rock and roll that how will meet our makers. Some one suggests we roll a joint and the future seems a little brighter. Then some one asks, “how long do you think the dumb bastards wil pay for the empty beds before they realise no one is ever going to use them again”?
I don’t think it’s ever been discussed again.
I’d want to kill myself too if I had to see the decline of the last 50 years for myself.