Cause and effect of the increased suicide in the USA

Cause and effect of the increased suicide in the USA

            Just a few weeks ago, news about the deaths of the two prominent, beloved and respected cultural figures in the U.S shook the nation. First of all, Kate Spade who had just turned 55 and who was the founder of an eponymous fashion brand famous for its cheery and bright aesthetic took off her own life. Shortly after, Anthony Bourdain at his early 60’s and who was a famed chef, bon vivant and a writer as well followed Kate through suicide act while filming a CNN travel show in France. These two epitome characters seemed so full of life to be associated with suicide but who knows, their deaths were really disquieting. Adding to this unease was a new finding published by the Center for Disease Control the same week the two incidences hit the headlines. Suicide was ranked among the top 10 major causes of deaths in the U.S., and second-leading death cause among citizens between 10 to 24 years. Worst of all, the rate of deaths as a result of suicide indicated a rising trend, at a rate of more than 30% in almost all the states to be specific.

In accordance to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report as presented by the Center for Disease Control, suicide death cases in the United States has even surpassed car accident deaths in the country. For instance, in 2017 the deaths resulting from car accidents were 4500 while those resulting from suicide cases were 49000. More alarmingly, suicide rates for mid-life Americans between the ages 35-64 have increased by nearly 40% between 2010 and 2017 (Twenge, et al, 10).  This has necessitated the research for the reasons behind such a terrifying trend within the country. There have been different opinions from different researchers in regard to this issue. However, there are some which seem to have drawn the attention of many researchers centrally and which seem to shed a brighter light on the matter.

Substance use has played a major role in many cases of suicide deaths reported in U.S. A report by CDC has currently indicated that, among the suicide deaths whose toxicology test was carried out, nearly 75% had two or more drug substances within their body system, the common substance being alcohol, followed by benzodiazepines, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, and antidepressants. According to a report by Carsey Research, mortality rates from alcohol and drug poisoning had increased by 52% between 2000 and 2014 (Twenge, et al, 10). And perhaps that has provided an insight and support for the fact that suicide in the U.S has some relationship with drug and substance abuse. Many suicide deaths have been directly linked with drug and substance overdose.

To support this finding, the trends in illicit drug have also been consulted indicating that the overall usage of illicit drugs within the country has been increasing. In particular, the use of Marijuana has increased and doubled within a decade. Nearly 10 percent of the young adults and who are the main victims of suicide use marijuana with only a third of them meeting the criteria for substance use disorder. Closely similar trends have also been shown by other substances such as Opioid (Rachiotis et al, 45). For instance, in 2016 people who died in the U.S as a result of opioid overdose were 42,249, nearly the number of those who died through suicide the same year. When all these cases are gathered together, it comes out clearly that majority of US population is under some form of psychoactive drug or substance that changes the normal functioning of the brain, mood, behavior, and consciousness leading to abnormal acts as evidence in the rising cases of suicide.

From a different point of view, it has been evident that the increasing rates of suicide in the US have a close link with the weakening social norms in regard to mutual support and aids for its low-income citizens. Some of the suicide cases have been closely linked with the reduction in social welfare by the US government recently. The social welfare programs which have indicated a direct link to the trends include Medicaid, a program that helps low-income citizens to meet the expensive health costs in the country; the temporary needy family’s kit and Supplemental Security Income program for disabled, blind and elderly (Rachiotis et al, 45). The US government has been ranked at the low end of the spectrum in regard to social welfare spending compared to Western Europe countries. This has exposed its low-income citizens into a lot of suffering because they can’t meet their basic demands. This renders them helpless to an extent of prompting them to commit suicide.

The high-income inequality in the US has also played a major role in the increasing rates of suicide within the country.  Compared to the European countries, the gap between the poor and the rich in the US has widened up recently. Different research studies have also found out that the high levels of income inequality within the country have led to the exaggerated high levels of suicide deaths.  Social strain theory sets it clear that when the gap between poor and rich is very large, poor people tend to struggle more hence making them susceptible to criminality, addiction, and mental illness.

Comparing US with most European countries under the GINI index, a standard measure varying between zero, no inequality and one, or the scenario where a single household gets all the income, it has been found that the gap between poor and rich in the US range above 0.410 while in European countries is between 0.271 and 0.305 (Rachiotis et al, 45). That is a clear indication that US has 34.4 % more income inequality than countries like Austria, meaning that there is a relatively high financial strain in US low-class citizens. The high strain among this group of people has made most of them lose hope in life hence resolving to commit suicide.

Among the major effects of the rising suicide deaths in the US is the increased number of street children within the major cities. Considering that most of the affected population is the young adults who have just started families after they pass away children are left without an option other than running into streets of major cities and towns to seek rescue. Hard life there, however, turns them into street children.

In general, suicide cases in the United States have been depicted to be truly on their rising trend as supported by many research studies which have been used in this paper. All the studies considered in this paper have directly linked suicide with the struggle impacts as citizens strive to meet their basic needs. For instance, the first cause of suicide was associated with drug and substance abuse which are also associated with people under struggle in life. The second cause was the reduced aids and support to the low-class citizens which make them struggle excessively to meet their basic needs. Lastly, the high-income inequality within the country has also been presented as another cause of rising suicide rates because of its impacts as far as a struggle for survival is concerned. The increasing number of street children has been associated with these trends.

Work cited

Twenge, Jean M., et al. “Increases in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and             suicide rates among US adolescents after 2010 and links to increased new media screen             time.” Clinical Psychological Science 6.1 (2018): 3-17.

Rachiotis, George, et al. “What has happened to suicides during the Greek economic crisis?          Findings from an ecological study of suicides and their determinants (2003–2012).” BMJ      open 5.3 (2015): e007295.