Rates of suicide continue to increase with the current rate 30% higher than in 1999. More than 45,000 suicides will occur this year which translates to about 125 every day. Suicide represents the 10th leading cause of death in America but among adolescents and young adults it rises to the 2nd-3rd most common position.
Approximately 50% of suicides occur in people with diagnosed depression. However this number increases to 90% after a forensic autopsy. This procedure involves experts retrospectively evaluating the individual’s behavior in the period leading up to the suicide.
Of course other factors must be involved since the overwhelming majority people with depression never proceed to suicide. It appears a variety of issues lurking in the background increase the risk to a point where some final life event or adverse circumstance precipitates the terminal act.
Nearly half of suicide completers interacted with a health care practitioner in the month before the final act. However records demonstrate that neither the doctor nor the patient mentioned anything about suicide.
Appropriate intervention will require a concerted effort involving mental and physical health, addressing social isolation, drug and alcohol issues and creating a society with more interactions between people rather than smartphones and computers.