Isolated And Struggling, Many Seniors Are Turning To Suicide
Across the country, suicide rates have been on the rise, and that rise has struck the nation's seniors particularly hard. Of the more than 47,000 suicides that took place in 2017, those 65 and up accounted for more than 8,500 of them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Men who are 65 and older face the highest risk of suicide, while adults 85 and older, regardless of gender, are the second most likely age group to die from suicide. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 47.8 million people over the age of 65 in the U.S. as of 2015.
That concerns mental health experts like Dr. Jerry Reed, who manages suicide, violence and injury prevention at the nonprofit Education Development Center. "It's likely that if we have a problem now, we may very well have a problem in the future if we don't pay attention," says Reed. What's particularly worrying, say experts like Reed, is that when seniors attempt suicide, they are far more likely to die than those who are younger.
Research has found that one out of four senior citizens that attempt suicide dies, compared to one out of 200 attempts for young adults. While the precise reasons for these figures remain unclear, experts suggest seniors are frailer and thus more vulnerable to self-inflicted injury. They can also be more isolated, which makes rescues more difficult, and perhaps even plan their attempts more carefully.
There are myriad reasons that elderly adults are more susceptible to the nation's 10th leading cause of death. One of the most prevalent is loneliness. Older adults often live in isolation and may be struggling with the death of a lifelong husband or wife, or with the grief of losing other close family or friends. Aging can also present transitions that are difficult to cope with. Approximately 80% of older adults live with a chronic disease – such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure — and 77% have at least two, according to The National Council on Aging.
full article at:
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/27/745017374/isolated-and-struggling-many-seniors-are-turning-to-suicide
= new reply since forum marked as read
What about the opiate crisis? These numbers far exceed the numbers being flaunted with their latest hysteria! How many have died because of it?
How many of our elders have been cut-off of medications with nowhere to turn?
These suicide levels are indicative of a far larger problem that elders face which include sickness, isolation and loneliness and taking away life-saving medications like opiods.
Shame on those that endorse these ideas, shame!
Suicide should never be an option! Never!
Two persons living on less than $21K a year is pretty sad.
How long can you last is what you keep asking yourself.
One step away from financial hell is where it is at for too many that have just enough not to qualify for anything much.
I wonder how many have this as their reality?
I could be there at any time. Well, any of us could.
Living with a chronic illness/disease is certainly a non-stop battle that no one wins in the end. For many, that end cannot come soon enough.
The love and friendship of others can't totally wipe away someone's inner turmoil.