Suicide rate among middle-aged Americans Rose at onset of financial crisis in 2007

A new study published Friday in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has linked sharp increase in suicide rates in the years after 2007 with Great Recession.

The study authors noted that the number suicide among middle-aged people in the US aged 40 to 64 have been increasing since 1999. But the rates for the age group have picked up markedly since the onset of the Great Recession.

In order to estimate suicides among people in 16 states, the researchers examined data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, which is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and shares detailed information about the circumstances behind all types of deaths.

They found that middle-aged people committed suicide from 2005 to 2010 and the rate of suicides due to external factors such as jobs, legal problems or financial troubles rose to 37.5% in 2010 from 32.9%in 2005.

Authors of the study, which include Dr. Katherine A. Hempstead and colleague Julia A. Phillips, PhD, of the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research in New Brunswick mentioned that external circumstances were more common among men (39%) than women (23%).

Dr. Hempstead Phillips wrote, "The sharpest increase in external circumstances appears to be temporally related to the worst years of the Great Recession, consistent with other work showing a link between deteriorating economic conditions and suicide".

According to Halaris, friends and family have the ability to offer help to those who might be having suicidal thoughts. She added that if someone notices that his/her acquaintance has expressed suicidal thoughts or engaged in self-destructive behavior, he/she should approach that person with sensitivity and empathy and offer their assistance and support.