The Suicide Of North Carolina

"Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention." National Institutes of Health. June 26, 2008. National Institute for Mental Health. 18 Nov 2008 .

Archaeologists believe that the first human beings to enter North America traveled from Siberia between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. During the Ice Age, a period in time named for the reduction in the Earth's temperature, ocean levels receded, exposing land that was previously covered by the Bering Sea (2). The ancestors of Native Americans were able to walk across the land from present-day Siberia to the landmass that, today, is known as Alaska. Prior to 1550, the ancestors of Native Americans were nomadic hunters and gatherers, meaning they traveled in search of food. Around 1550, Native American tribes were practicing settlement. Settlements consisted of small villages that were centered on hunting, fishing, or farming (2). Approximately thirty Native American tribes settled on the land that is now known as North Carolina including, the Cherokee, the Catawba, the Tuscarora, the Cape Fear, and the Waccamaw tribes (2).

Every 7 in 10 suicides are from white males and they are mostly men who are middle aged (Suicide Statistics, 2016). A common trend sn high death rate for suicide is that the men lack higher education past high school. Those who do not have higher education could have problems with seeking higher paying jobs which is causing stress and leading to factors for the causes of suicide. People who are not educated are struggling to make ends meet and while the cost of living continues to rise the minimum wage is

Healthy People 2020 set a goal of reducing the number of completed suicides among the adult population by ten percent. This is a reoccurring theme from Healthy People 2010, where the goal was to reduce the number of suicides from 10.5 to 4.8 per 100,000. Unfortunately, from 2003 to 2013, rate of death from suicide has steadily increased to the current rate of 13.0 per 100,000 deaths (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). The goal of Healthy People 2020 is to improve the health of our Nation over the next ten years, from a baseline set of data (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Though suicide is not an illness, it typically is an untreated or undermanaged mental illness that results in a person resorting to

Feelings of isolation have been linked to higher suicide rates. Durkheim’s study on suicide during the industrial revolution supports this theory as he states that, “people were increasingly disconnected from their communities and that this social upheaval had a greater effect on suicide rates than other factors like wealth” (Winner & Collishaw, 2011). Interestingly enough, despite the increase of media attention on suicide, no studies have been published that explain why suicide rates vary among different groups. However, various factors are involved in the decision to commit suicide. As a result, suicide rates vary according to race, gender and age.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2013 there were 113 suicides each day or one every 13 minutes. Although the true number of deaths from suicide may be higher due to some deaths may be recorded as “accidental” (gateway). Adolescent boys 15 to 19 years old had a completed suicide rate that was 3 times greater than females; however, rate of suicide attempts was twice as high among females given that they tend to use less lethal methods (gateway). Equally important, suicide affects youth of all races and socioeconomic groups, including sexual minority youth such as lesbian, gay, bisexuals, and Transgenders (gateway). Also, other high-risk groups may include American Indian and Alaska Natives, rural population, and active or retired military personnel.

Suicide rates suggest that certain disparities do exist. Disparities between both age and sex are most common while race can also play a factor when discussing disparities. In 2014, White males accounted for 77.4% of all suicides, only 22.6% were women (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2016). In addition to sex disparities, some race/ethnic disparities exist. From 2005-2014 the rates according to race are as follows: Whites 14.7, American Indians 10.9, Hispanics 6.3, Asians and Pacific Islanders 5.9 and Africans 5.5 (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2016). There is an outstanding difference in the White race compared to Africans or

There was a drastic rise in the suicide rates among white males specifically. One did not see that same rise in suicide rates among minorities. There has been plenty of speculation as to why that could have been. One reason is that the one cannot lose money that they never had access too. Although the Great Depression was bad for the country, it has a big effect on those with power in society and that was white males who were not accustomed to not getting their way or having to live without the money they lost and they could not handle it. A similar trend happened even as recent as the Recession of 2008-2009 when there was a surge of suicide rates among white people. Even though we have improved vastly as a society from the 1920s until now there was a similar pattern we see. The United States is for the most part run by Caucasians so when we have an economic decline it does not affect minorities as much as if effects majorities who are not used to living without. Being forced into downsizing and not being able to handle the stress that comes with having less plays a role in the suicide rates being higher among Caucasians than Non- Caucasians as a

Substantial cost of suicide exists within American society. The National Institute of Medical Health (NIMH, 2017), asserts that in 2013 suicide cost the United States economy 50.8 billion dollars. However, the CDC (2015) estimated in 2010, the cost of 44 billion dollars with 1,164,499 dollars spent per suicide for individuals over the age of ten. This cost reflects medical treatment and loss in productivity. Unfortunately, CDC (2015) reports that most individuals who engage in suicidal behavior never go on to seek treatment for their mental illness.

Suicide has become a major issue in Black adolescents, suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys age 13 to 17 (CDC, 2014). That surpasses the number of deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV and diabetes (CDC, 2014.). CDC reports show that in 2014 there were 68 adolescents that completed suicide and 1131 reported attempts (CDC, 2014). Not all suicide attempts are reported. Suicide accounted for 10 percent of deaths of adolescents in 2014 (CDC, 2014). While the loss of life is significant there are other cost associated with suicide. The average medical cost associated with suicides is $5,518 per person (CDC, 2010, National Vital Statistics System). The average work loss cost $1,684,460 (CDC, 2010, National Vital Statistics System). Those financial numbers only take into account the numbers associated with the individual who commits suicide. It does not factor into other cost related to love ones, such as the emotional cost or toll suicides plays on the family.

iSuicide has become a major issue amongst African-American adolescent males. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys age 13 to 17 (CDC, 2014). That is above the number of deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV, and diabetes (CDC, WISQARS 2016.). Additionally, CDC reports for 2014 there were 68 African-American adolescent males that completed suicide and 1131 reported attempts for that year (CDC, WISQARS 2016). This is a significant number, although not all suicide attempts are reported (Joiner, 2005). Furthermore, suicide accounted for 10 percent of deaths of adolescents in 2014 reports (CDC, WISQARS 2016).

Suicide has become a major issue amongst African-American adolescent males. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys age 13 to 17 (CDC, 2014). That is above the number of deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV and diabetes (CDC, WISQARS 2016.). Additionally, CDC reports for 2014 there were 68 African-American adolescent males that completed suicide and 1131 reported attempts for that year (CDC, WISQARS 2016). This is a significant number, although not all suicide attempts are reported (Joiner, 2005). Furthermore, suicide accounted for 10 percent of deaths of adolescents in 2014 reports (CDC, WISQARS 2016).

Suicide has become a major issue in Black adolescents. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys age 13 to 17 (CDC, 2014). That surpasses the number of deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV and diabetes (CDC, 2014.). Additionally, CDC reports show that in 2014 there were 68 adolescents that completed suicide and 1131 reported attempts (CDC, 2014). This is a significant number, although not all suicide attempts are reported (Joiner, 2015). Furthermore, suicide accounted for 10 percent of deaths of adolescents in 2014 (CDC, 2014).

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” - Phil Donahue. As a complex, tragic public health issue, suicide occurs in men significantly more often than in women. Suicide is simply defined as the act of intentionally ending one’s own life, however, the factors that play into a person making that decision are anything but simple. The most evident and severe effect of suicide is the loss of a valuable, meaningful human life. According to Harvard School of Public Health (n.d.), suicide affects parents, children, siblings, friends, lovers, and spouses; the loss to society is psychological, spiritual, and financial. People who lose a loved one to suicide often experience devastating effects and deal with a complex grief. These

Attention Getter: Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. surpassed by accidents and homicide. (According to Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention)