posted by Admin on Feb 1
Suicide ranks among the greatest, and most preventable, health problems in the U.S. today. It was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States in 2006 with 33,300 deaths (or 10.9 deaths per 100,000 individuals). There are also an estimated 12-25 suicide attempts for every death caused by a suicide.
Statistical research demonstrates that suicide risk factors can include; depression (among other mental disorders) and substance-abuse problems. However, more than 90% of those who have died by suicide had certain risk factors in common such as: family violence or sexual abuse, time spent in prison, family history of suicide, family history of substance abuse issues, firearms located in the home and prior suicide attempts.
It should be noted, though, that suicidal behavior is an abnormal response to stress. There are many individuals who have the aforementioned risk factor characteristics – but are not suicidal. Medical research has shown that a decreased level of the chemical serotonin, in the brain, is a common factor in many suicide attempts, depression disorders and impulsive disorders.
In 2006, suicide was the 7th leading cause of death for males and the 16th leading cause of death for females. This translates into the fact that four times as many males die from suicide than females. The most common methods of suicide, by far, are firearms, poison and suffocation. For males, though, firearms are the most common suicide method (56%) and for females, the most common method is poison (40%).
Suicide ranked as the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24 in 2006. For children (10-14), the suicide rate was 1.3 per 100,000. For adolescents (15-19), the suicide rate was 8.2 per 100,000 and for young adults (20-24) the suicide rate was 12.5 per 100,000. While the predominant means of suicide involved firearms for young adult and adolescents, children were more likely to use suffocation methods.
Older Americans are more at risk for suicide with 14.2 deaths per 100,000 over the age of 65 which sharply contrasts with the 10.9 per 100,000 in the overall population. The highest rate reported was for non-Hispanic white men over the age of 85 at 48 deaths per 100,000.
For ethnic groups, the highest suicide rate was for Native Americans and Alaskan Natives with 15.1 per 100,000.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.
There are times when an insurance company may refuse to pay, in the case of a suicide – for further website information, visit the Law Offices of Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A. located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.