February 28, 2008
suicide fact of the day
I went back to the original data source (imagine that!) and found that the stereotype is dead wrong: suicide rates are notably lower for teenagers than adults…Suicide rates do rise throughout the teen years, but they plateau at about age 20 and remain flat throughout the years 20 to 65. Then they jump again for the 65+ demographic. In case you’re wondering, teen suicide rates have not been rising, either. They’ve been in decline since the late 1980s.
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That’s too bad. I can’t think of an age group I’d rather have the highest suicide rate in.
Unfortunately, the “fact” comment on declining youth suicide rates is very misleading. After some history of declines, the latest data from the Center for Disease Control showed a significant increase in the suicide rate for young people. The data, released in 2007, showed increases of at least 8% in most categories relating to youth and young adults. Instad of getting the facts wrong, we should be working hard on suicide prevention.
I may be caulous, but I’ve always wondered about our need to save people who really, really want to kill themselves. It’s definitely odd that someone would want to end their life, but at the same time, I consider it their choice. A selfish choice, but a choice nonetheless.
Granted, teenagers have no idea about dealing with things like “the future” and that there are much better things than being popular in high school. Prevention there would be good.
I just wish the “murder/suicides” would just reverse the order of the actions.
Patrick, I think that you raise a very good point. Setting aside the matter of a teenager’s shaky grasp on life and the future, I can state with little doubt as a member of society that I cannot judge the validity of another adult’s conviction that his or her life is not worth living. What’s hard is when it comes down to the personal level, when an individual you love wants to die and challenges you to produce “one good reason to remain alive”. Though the effects of a suicide would suggest otherwise, I don’t believe that the desire to end one’s life is necessarily selfish, and I do believe that it is an individual’s choice, but the urge to preserve life is strong. What else can we do (one on one) but make the ‘pro-life’ argument (so to speak)?
In case you’re wondering, teen suicide rates have not been rising, either. They’ve been in decline since the late 1980s.
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*breath*
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