The ability of Blacks to endure during bad times is a strong and vital characteristic. We rarely, if ever, allow those times to drive us to kill ourselves. The suicide rate among Blacks and other minorities is very low compared to that of whites.

According to studies, people commit suicide when there is something of extreme value at stake, and most commit suicide primarily because of depression. In addition, some of the negative life experiences that may cause depression, and some other causes for depression, include:

· The death of a loved one.
· A divorce, separation, or breakup of a relationship.
· Losing custody of children, or feeling that a child custody decision is not fair.
· A serious loss, such as a loss of a job, house, or money.
· A serious illness.
· A terminal illness.
· A serious accident.
· Chronic physical pain.
· Intense emotional pain.
· Loss of hope.
· Being victimized (domestic violence, rape, assault, etc).
· A loved one being victimized (child murder, child molestation, kidnapping, murder, rape, assault, etc.).
· Physical abuse.
· Verbal abuse.
· Sexual abuse.
· Unresolved abuse (of any kind) from the past.
· Feeling "trapped" in a situation perceived as negative.
· Feeling that things will never "get better."
· Feeling helpless.
· Serious legal problems, such as criminal prosecution or incarceration.
· Feeling "taken advantage of."
· Inability to deal with a perceived "humiliating" situation.
· Inability to deal with a perceived "failure."
· Alcohol abuse.
· Drug abuse.
· A feeling of not being accepted by family, friends, or society.
· A horrible disappointment.
· Feeling like one has not lived up to his or her high expectations or those of another.
· Bullying. (Adults, as well as children, can be bullied).
· Low self-esteem.

Again, the above causes may trigger depression, and, untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.

  Suicide Stats
	
Breakdown by Gender / Ethnicity / Young, Old Age Groups
                                             Rate Per
                   Number        Per Day      100,000    % of Deaths    
Total ...........30,622...…....83.9............10.8..............1.3 
Males ..........24,672..........67.6............17.6..............2.1 
Females.........5,950..........16.3..............4.1..............0.5 
Whites..........27,710.........75.9............11.9..............1.3 
Nonwhites.......2,912.........8.0...............5.6..............0.9 
Blacks.............1,957.........5.4...............5.3..............0.7 
Elderly (65+)....5,393.......14.8.............15.3..............0.3 
Young (15-24)..3,971.......10.9...............9.9.............12.3

Suicide Rates

Since 1933, the first year states began reporting deaths, adults 65 and older have had the highest suicide rate of all age groups. While older adults make up 13% of the U.S.population, they account for nearly 20% of suicide deaths. Suicide rates tend to rise with age and are highest among white men 65 and older.

The rate of youth suicides has tripled since the 1950s, and today, suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds. In 1998, more teenagers and young adults died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.

Each year, over 30,000 Americans die by suicide and over 700,000 make a suicide attempt.

· An American dies by suicide every 17 minutes.
· Suicide deaths consistently outnumber homicide deaths by a margin of three to two.
· In 2002, twice as many Americans died from suicide than from HIV/AIDS.
· Suicide is the third leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 24 and the second leading cause of death for American college students.
· The elderly, although they comprise only 12% of the population, account for about 18% of our nation's suicides.
· Research has shown that more than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have depression or another diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder.

At a Glance: Suicide Among Special Populations

· During the period from 1979-1992, suicide rates for Native Americans (a category that includes American Indians and Alaska Natives) were about 1.5 times the national rates. There were a disproportionate number of suicides among young male Native Americans during this period, as males 15-24 accounted for 64% of all suicides by Native Americans.

· Suicide rates are higher than the national average for some groups of Asian Americans. For example, the suicide rate among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the state of California is similar to that of the total population. However, in Hawaii the rate for AAPI's jumps to 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.8 per 100,000 rate for all people residing there. Asian-American women have the highest suicide rate among women 65 or older.

· While the suicide rate among young people is greatest among young white males, from 1980 through 1996 the rate increased most rapidly among black males aged 15 to 19-more than doubling from 3.6 per 100,000 to 8.1 per 100,000.

· It has been widely reported that gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youth and that 30 percent of all attempted or completed youth suicides are related to issues of sexual identity. There are no empirical data on completed suicides to support such assertions, but there is growing concern about an association between suicide risk and bisexuality or homosexuality for youth, particularly males. Increased attention has been focused on the need for empirically based and culturally competent research on the topic of gay, lesbian and bisexual suicide.

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Source From: http://preventsuicidenow.com/suicide-statistics.html

© 2005 By Afro Staff