February 25, 2008
This just in, a recent Center for Disease Control study reports:
“The suicide rate among 45-to-54 year olds increased by nearly 20% from 1999 to 2004, the latest year studied, far outpacing changes in nearly every other age group. For women 45 to 54, the rate leapt 31%.”
And Wikipedia continues to insist there’s no such thing as a midlife crisis….
Between recent international research showing a spike in midlife depression (see: Midlife and Depression) reported last month, and this new CDC report, it looks to me like the difficulties of midlife survival are finally being noticed by others. Those of us in the middle of all this, were already frightfully familiar with the challenges involved.
The reasons for increased depression and suicide at midlife are just theories so far. The CDC report suggested some corrolation between so many women foregoing the comforts of hormone replacement therapy and also the skyrocketing use and abuse of prescription drugs. In addition, the suicide rate is worse among Vietnam veterans. Some research shows that veterans account for one in five suicides in our age group.
Dr. Ira Katz, who oversees mental health programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs says:
“The agency has noticed that the highest suicide rates have been among middle-aged men and women. Those most affected are not returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, he said, but those who served in Vietnam or right after, when the draft ended and the all-volunteer force began. The current generation of older people seems to be at lesser risk for depression throughout their lifetimes than the middle-aged.”
Another scientist who has studied us, Myrna M. Weissman, the chief of the department in Clinical-Genetic Epidemiology at New York State Psychiatric Institute, concluded there is a susceptibility to depression among the affluent and healthy baby boom generation. One possible reason she offered was the growing pressures of modern life, like the changing shape of families and more frequent moves away from friends.
Yes, I would have to agree. Loneliness, alienation and a lost sense of connection with others must be important factors in this equation.
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Yes indeed, 57 years old, long divorced, kids grown, no sweetie, continuous employment problems, far from family and friends.
I think about it every day. I better understand the attraction of alcohol and drugs for some. If I wasn’t afraid of the kids finding me I would have done it years ago. It ain’t good! But somedays, just being alive, out in the sun is enough to carry one more day. The attraction of hitting bottom is that there is no way to go but up!
#1 Came to admit we are powerless and that our lives had become unmanagable………………