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US Suicide Rate Surges To Highest Level In Almost Three Decades, Says Report (bbc.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from BBC: The suicide rate in the U.S. has surged to its highest level in almost three decades, according to a new report from the CDC. There was no explanation for the rise but some experts have pointed to increased abuse of prescription opiates and the financial downturn that began in 2008 as likely factors. The report did not break down the suicides by education level or income, but previous studies found rising suicide rates among white people without university degrees. CDC reported on Friday that suicides have increased in the US to a rate of 13 per 100,000 people, the highest since 1986. The overall suicide rate rose by 24% from 1999 to 2014, according to the CDC. However, the rate increased 43% among white men ages 45 to 64 and 63% for women in the same age-range. In 2014, more than 14,000 middle-aged white people killed themselves. That figure is double the combined suicides total for all blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. The suicide rate only declined for only two groups: black men and all people over 75.
The statistical suicide rates for opiate 'addicts' are probably severely flawed. I suspect a large portion are actually chronic pain sufferers that didn't get adequate medical care. The medical community is absolutely horrendous at treating chronic pain when they don't have some obvious cause. You are basically absolutely screwed if they can't look at some x-ray or MRI or CT and see something broken or out of place.
Mine started from a stupid fall onto a hammer two years ago. Eventually it got so bad I couldn't stand or sit or sleep basically live. I've forgotten how many times are frozen my skin solid trying to get the pain to go down. I am only taking tramdol at 150mg for that last two years. If I had done it I would've been considered an 'addict' statistic because there was a prescription bottle in the room.
I got a call from the Mayo Clinic the next day saying they accepted my case but that took more than two years to get to this point and being treated like you're some kind addict because your chronic pain.
if you hurt yourself make sure you fucking break it really good so the doctor can figure out what the fuck is wrong with you quickly otherwise you are screwed.
Unacceptable! Unacceptable!
This cannot be tolerated! Please people! Demand that it stop immediately! Indelible, uneditable comments is Slashdot's last redeeming value! Without it all is lost!
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Not economists. Economics is more of a pseudoscience than parapsychology.
You are welcome on my lawn.
This was never presented to "the voters". This was taught as dogma to generations of Business Administration majors with no supporting theory or measurement at all. They are all out there now, convinced that the magical "market" will automatically guaranty maximal efficiency. They were never taught to think or to question whether old models were still valid. Any change is frightening for them since they have absolutely no ability to evaluate or even think about it. Change does not match their case studies, all carefully selected and massaged to support the dogma. This, arguably more than any other factor, is what keeps the USA on the rails to havoc.
Bent, folded, spindled, and mutilated.
US: 1-800-273-8255 is a 24/7 suicide prevention hotline, which also advises people dealing with a suicidal loved one or friend.
http://www.suicide.org/interna...
For US active duty military and veterans:
Veteran's Crisis Line:
1800-273-8255
Press 1
or text 838255
confidential chat available at: www.veteranscrisisline.net
Specifically for support of trans* people, http://www.translifeline.org/ has a US hotline number +18775658860 and a Canadian toll-free number +18773306366.
For LGBT teenagers and young adults, http://www.thetrevorproject.or.... They also have a hotline number, 866-488-7386.
If you're a friend or bystander, these are relevant.
Suicide threats on social media:
http://www.suicidepreventionli...
If you're in the US this is a guide to reaching emergency services outside your own area: http://firstaid.about.com/od/c...
Immediate steps you can take: http://www.helpguide.org/artic...
If you're in tech, most companies don't care about a degree as long as you know your stuff. As for hiring kids and H1-Bs, most companies don't abuse H1-Bs, and most companies do hire workers who aren't straight out of school. Just don't apply for junior positions, because you'd be overqualified.
Also, Medicaid is not based on the previous year's income. It is based on the current monthly income. If you call below a certain line, you qualify. And if your state has signed on for expanded coverage (e.g. California), you might qualify for Medicare at even higher levels. And even if you don't qualify for Medicare, if you're currently making less than 400% of the poverty line, you can get discounts on health insurance in the form of tax credits. That $300 per month you quoted is roughly the California rate before low-income subsidies, not after. If you don't take the discount when paying your insurance bills, you'll get that money back in the form of a tax credit when you pay your taxes next year. Either way, the net effect is the same.
Finally, if you're serious about that last part, talk to somebody. There's a difference between being sad and feeling hopeless. The latter is a medical problem, and is treatable. Get health insurance, then go talk to a medical professional. First, they will help you recover your hope, and second, that hope will help you get a job. The reality is that clinical depression will make it much harder to get a job, so get help first, then apply for jobs.
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