Citation

Fogel SJ. Fam. Soc. 2018; 99(3): 191-192.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Alliance for Children and Families, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1044389418790224

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The recent suicides of two high-profile, accomplished, and wealthy celebrity-professionals remind us that outward appearances of happiness, security, and family and social connectivity do not necessarily reflect the interior world of individuals who are experiencing anguish, suffering, or inner conflicts that could lead to thoughts and actions of suicide. Indeed, for many--like veterans, older adults, youth, or others who may identify with stigmatized groups--their acts of suicide do not make national news. Their struggles remain confined to themselves and, occasionally, those closest to them or a trained professional. All of this is reflected in a striking new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2018) in which data show the national suicide rate increased 25% between 1999 and 2016. In 2016, the rates of suicide rose in every U.S. state except one, with increases across age, gender, race, and ethnicity. That same year, 45,000 individuals, age 10 years or older, committed suicide--which means there were more than twice as many suicides as homicides.

Two decades ago, the U.S. surgeon general called rising rates a serious public health problem in need of concerted prevention efforts (U.S. Public Health Service, 1999). As with many public health crises, there are multiple factors that influence both the problem and solutions. With suicide, though, there remains a primary scrutiny on mental health deficits. But the CDC reports that "researchers found that more than half of people who died by suicide did not have a known diagnosed mental health condition at the time of death. Relationship problems or loss; substance misuse...

Language: en