James Donaldson: #JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #Senior #Adults Suffer Greatest Increase As #U.S. #Suicides Near 50,000

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #Senior #Adults Suffer Greatest Increase As #U.S. #Suicides Near 50,000

ATLANTA (BP) — #Senior #adults suffered the largest increase in #suicides as nearly 50,000 #Americans killed themselves in 2022, the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention (#CDC) said in its latest report.

The 8 percent rise in #suicides among #adults 65 and older was the highest driver in #suicide deaths, the #CDC said, with 10,433 deaths in that age group alone. That’s compared to 9,652 #adults over 65 who killed themselves the previous year.

#Suicide declined 8.4 percent among the youngest #Americans the #CDC tracks – ages 10-24 – falling from 7,126 to 6,529. The number counters recent reports of an increase in #mentalhealthstruggles among young #adults, and a concurrent call for ministry to address #mentalhealthconcerns among millennials and Gen Z.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

#Senior #adults, one of several Southern Baptist ministry specialties along with #youth ministry, have needed #mentalhealth assistance especially after the #COVID-19 #pandemic, the #AmericanAssociationofRetiredPersons (#AARP) reported. More than 45 percent of #adults 50 and older suffered from #anxiety, 34 percent lost interest in activities, and 31 percent suffered #depression or #hopelessness, the #AARP said in a study of 2,000 older #adults conducted Feb. 24 – March 1 of 2022.

Overall, the #CDC tracked 49,449 #suicides among #Americans ages 10 and older in the numbers released August 10, a 2.6 percent increase from the 48,183 deaths in 2021.

#Suicides briefly declined in 2019 and 2020 after consistently rising since 2000, but began rising again in 2021, the #CDC said.

The increase underscores a “devastating #mentalhealthcrisis in #America,” U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murphy said upon the release of the latest numbers, which are provisional.

“#Mentalhealth has become the defining public health and societal challenge of our time. Far too many people and their families are suffering and feeling alone,” Murphy said. “These numbers are a sobering reminder of how urgent it is that we further expand access to #mentalhealthcare, address the root causes of #mentalhealthstruggles, and recognize the importance of checking on and supporting one another.”

Among other #CDC #suicide numbers:

- #Suicide rose 6.6 percent among 45- to 64-year-olds, rising to 15,632 from the previous 14,668.

- #Males outnumbered #females in #suicide deaths, 39,255 compared to 10,194.

- #Whites, who accounted for 37,459 suicides, far outnumbered other #ethnic groups including #Blacks and #AfricanAmericans, 3,825; #Hispanics and #Latinos, 5,120; #Asians, 1,458, and #AmericanIndian or Alaska Natives, 650.

Help for anyone suffering thoughts of #suicide is available through the #988Suicide&CrisisLifeline. Connect with a trained crisis #counselor by texting or calling #988, or connecting online at 988lifeline.org.