this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2023
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About 49,500 people took their own lives last year in the U.S., the highest number ever, according to new government data posted Thursday.

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[–] whats_a_refoogee 142 points 1 year ago (18 children)

I will probably get shit for this, since it's a predominantly left leaning space, but until society starts acknowledging men's issues it will keep getting worse.

https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics

In 2021, men died by suicide 3.90x more than women.

In 2021, firearms accounted for 54.64% of all suicide deaths.

This article is an excellent example of what I am talking about. It does not even mention the disparity of suicide rates between the sexes despite it obviously being a huge outlier. Instead, they talk about how guns are the problem, even though a gun is just a method.

Taking away the easy methods to commit suicide might reduce the rate, but it does nothing to address to core issues that make people want to kill themselves in the first place. Instead of 5000 dead people you will have 5000 people who wish they were dead. Mission accomplished.

[–] [email protected] 103 points 1 year ago (9 children)

but until society starts acknowledging men’s issues it will keep getting worse.

Good news. We've moved on from 'man hating' on the left. Intersectional Feminism actually espouses the fact that men are also harmed by the patriarchy and all the ridiculous demands that it puts on us, like not feeling feelings. You should look into it.

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[–] can 60 points 1 year ago (12 children)

I will probably get shit for this, since it's a predominantly left leaning space, but until society starts acknowledging men's issues it will keep getting worse.

???

What left leaning circles have you been in? I think we all know men have issues too?

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[–] [email protected] 58 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Free mental healthcare is a pretty leftist stance I think? Solving social issues and getting people the resources and care they need seems like a good way to solve the suicide issue and that's 100% what the left is all about.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Free mental healthcare is a pretty leftist stance I think?

Yes, pro universal healthcare and also pro 2A, liberals not so much.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago

I can't think of a single left leaning space that is not concerned or empathetic about the mental health of men. I can think of several right leaning spaces that dismiss men's mental health struggles with "stop being a snowflake and man up."

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It also does not even mention the disparity of suicide stats between different ethnic groups.

US demographics use "race" instead of ethnicity but the stats still point to a massive disparity with American Indian or Alaska Natives having suicide rates in the 20s (compared to overall rates of around 14 -14.9 per 100,000). Black and Hispanic people also have higher suicide rates.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

I think the majority of ppl want that stuff better for everyone, toxic masculinity hurts women and men. there's definitely some very vocal sexists on both sides though

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

It's worth noting that also according to that article women attempt suicide 1.3x as often as men -- but men are more likely to use guns so they end up dying more. It seems to me guns are a core part of the issue

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So let's pretend we get rid of guns; now we have thousands of people that still wish they were dead. Some will find other ways to die.

That's the point the other poster was making. We gotta treat the core problems, not just the symptoms.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The only reason a "left leaning" space would argue with you over that is when you start blaming women or feminism for mens issues.

As a man who is suicidal pretty much constantly, I know my issues are my own. I've failed, not society, but I also know that 5000 people who wish they were dead aren't dead yet and so there's still a chance things can change. I'd say gun control can be part of the solution, but I do also agree that we should be discussing what makes people suicidal and especially seeing why one segment of a population feels it more than others.

For me personally, I just feel like a complete failure in all aspects of life and can't find any direction that I care to pursue to get me "on track." I'm also such a mixed bag of 1000 different "types" that I have something for everyone to dislike as far as finding a partner. I would never blame women for wanting what they want, so while I enjoy my interests and stand firm in not wanted to live with a dog, I just have to accept that I'm not anyone's cup of tea.

So tldr on that bit, I'm the problem, not society.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago

You exist, and you are who you are, and that is ok. You may believe that you have failed, and feel guilty or ashamed of that, and that's ok too. You sound lonely, rejected, and really hurt by your experiences, "something for everyone to dislike". These feelings suck, but internalizing them and telling yourself that you are a problem can be really unhelpful. You are worthy of acceptance, with what flaws you see in yourself. This isn't really a great forum for personal, intimate discussion, but I do hope you can talk about your experiences with someone you trust.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

Hey man, you don't have to hold the world up by itself. Not everything is your responsibility. In fact a lot of what people are saying here that are causing these spikes are a result of isolation and society failing our people. All out individualism isn't that great for people. We need interdependence because we can't do this all alone. We need that sense of community that has all but been demolished. It's good that you aren't blaming others for your problems, but also, society could be more helpful/beneficial to you instead of kicking you to the curb instead of making everything seem hopeless. It could provide you the tools to climb out instead of leaving you in the well.
All this to say, is that please don't be ashamed to ask for help. None of us would've gotten this far without help from others.

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[–] [email protected] 96 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I find it interesting how much western countries have individualised the causes of sadness.

It's not that strange that people are often sick in a sick society. If you're depressed, it's likely that there are things that are causing or exacerbating that depression.

Give people homes, job security, less stressful jobs, and offer them a healthy work-life balance? Far easier to deal with and possibly even heal from trauma or serious health issues.

But that costs money. Selling people pills and self-help books? That makes money.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 year ago (3 children)

But that costs money.

It's worth noting that a lot of solutions actually save money.

For example, universal healthcare is a big issue in the US. Around 2/3 of all bankruptcies are from medical debt. People ration lifesaving medication like insulin because of how prohibitively expensive it is. GoFundMe is of the largest healthcare providers in the country, and over 1/3 of all campaigns are for medical expenses.

They've created a system where it's prohibitively expensive to seek necessary medical care, and is built on the foundational acceptance that people need to die and suffer for it to function as intended.

Yet a universal healthcare system is projected to cost the US an estimated ~13% less than they are paying.

Taking into account both the costs of coverage expansion as well as savings that would be achieved through the MAA, we calculate that a single-payer, universal healthcare system is likely to lead to a 13% savings in national healthcare expenditure, equivalent to over $450 billion annually.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Save taxpayers money, not the super rich. The system is working as intended for the parasites at the top.

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[–] [email protected] 81 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Everytime I see suicide statistics like these. I don't think of the deaths. I think of the misery each individual must have experienced in order to come to the conclusion that death was better.

Then I think about the nebulous political cloud surrounding these people and those who may have approached the conclusion but had the strength to carry on. I say nebulous because research is never going to encapsulate the reasons for one to kill oneself. If 50k in the US is the number who followed through, the numbers must be huge. I say this, because the suicide death statistic, is only the start of the problem - it's a scale.

Misery festers at all of us. Labels, drugs and conversation can help, but it's just burying the problem for it to resurface later. Until we start getting political movements towards human needs, this will continue.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think of the misery each individual must have experienced in order to come to the conclusion that death was better.

That someone not only have decided that death is better, but also have gone through all the steps to act on it is a measure of their resolve, if anything. And as you've said, they're still a rarity. On the spectrum of entertaining occasional thoughts to taking steps to actually doing it, the further you go, the less common it is!

That a lot of people have already gone this far, just how many more are mulling about it, questioning whether or not life is worth it, whether or not to do anything about it? And this "it gets better" mantra keeps some people from even speaking up! Why speak up when you're just going to be slapped with a thought-terminating-cliché? It makes it harder to know how many people are miserable enough to entertain "bad thoughts", and that the only objective measure we'd have is the number of people who've gone to the very end.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Honestly the number of people I've seen who are just living on the thought of "if I didn't wake up tomorrow, that would be fine, except my mom might be sad". And I mean seriously, not just the type of people who upvote posts of r/me_irl

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I recently came to the realization that staying alive to prevent my share of an inheritance from going to the greedy bitch who married my father late-in-life is a reason to stay alive. That's fucking sad as fuck.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life. But when something so dark and grim can be phrased as a positive, things are really wrong.

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[–] vd1n 75 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I believe it. This place sucks. Criminals and assholes everywhere, at least in my life. People claw at you and fuck you over until your suicidal. I have no respect for America at all anymore. It feels like having to live with seeing your rapist everyday.

That and nobody cares. I sent out goodbye texts to a lot of people in my life. Literally no one cares. I've had people try to push me to suicide, stalk me, and give me death threats since 2020. Cops don't care.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago

You're right. But I care, if even for this breif moment. Take care, when you can. I hear you. ❤️

[–] hoshikarakitaridia 17 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Ok first of all I get you, as someone from Europe, the greatest strengths of America often sound like the biggest weaknesses to me.

And then ofc if you wanna talk about it I'm here and I will listen :) hope you're doing good.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago

American culture was deeply scarred by the cold war in ways that I don't think many people realize. Over the last 80 years, the pursuit of self-interest has come to dominate every aspect of life and in turn degrades any attempt at community or helping one another. It's quite sad actually. The America that gave my grandparents the opportunity to drag themselves out of poverty has turned around and eaten itself alive.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Yep. Extreme egoism is great if you're a winner, but horrible if you're not. And most people are not winning.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

A nation that's not good to the people who aren't winning is not a good nation

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[–] darkstar 44 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I'm sorry maybe I'm a little triggered because this hits close to home, but seriously how the fuck can people claim "oh suicide is going up because guns"

Are they fucking blind to how things are going in the world? I'm so fucking livid right now. "Suicide is because guns" fuck off

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago

Guns don't make suicide more likely, they make them more successful.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Guns don't cause suicide, but they make it much easier to successfully complete suicide

Handguns especially

But I doubt an increase in suicides this year from last year has anything to do with gun ownership rates

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Everything people need to live is getting more expensive, wages are stagnant if not falling with respect to inflation, and we are forced to work longer hours and have little hope for retirement. We are bombarded by stories of violence, drugs, and theft. Oh, and climate change is starting to destroy the livability of planet earth. There is zero surprise that people don't want to keep living under these conditions.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Gee, no healthcare, no mental healthcare, no dental, no public transportation, Republicans trying to cut social Security every five seconds and our taxes go to. . .what exactly?

Trump last gave corporations and banks about 1 trillion in tax breaks and that "trickled down" in the form of piss on your face and a final result of corporations laying off workers anyway and not strengthening the economy.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

I know the solution! More guns! /s

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

Friendly reminder that statistics like this that aren't adjusted per various should be taken with a grain of salt until the per capita* figures are available from the CDC.

Just like murder rates etc: if you take only the highest number of something and don't adjust by population it's unclear if it's actually worse than it has ever been or not. It's not even clear if it is worse than last year without per capita figures.

Not trying to minimize the tragedy of suicide but a lot of people read meaning into figures like this without context.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago

America is a fucked up shithole.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago (2 children)

My best friend was one of them.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was going to say my nephew too, but that was this year

It simultaneously feels like years ago and days ago

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And this year is ten years since my son took his life.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I'm so sorry. I bet you still feel it every day. I can't even imagine.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

This will be a hot take for some but people opt out of a life that's pointless, miserable, painful, and hopeless. Preventing people from access to methods of opting out is but a palliative measure.

Sure, people can be dissuaded from making an attempt by making it difficult, but isn't it far better to address why people want to opt out in the first place? And of course, it's best to do both: prevent people from making attempts, and address any issues they might be having in their lives. Even better, provide "end-of-life" care for those who really have had it enough for whatever reason.

Why lock people into a miserable existence anyways? Someone might have been prevented from opting out, but if conditions don't change (and no, it doesn't always "get better"), you've got a person will just resent even being kept alive. What good does that do?

Now, for the trash take: I suspect suicide is a problem because suits can't make the line go up if people are killing themselves. The suits need people to consume and not kill themselves.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I was almost one of them about a year ago. I was horribly depressed and constantly thought about ending it. It was to the point where I was even planning out the letters I would write and how exactly I would do it. Thankfully I never committed. I cut off pretty much everyone from my hometown and went to a different highschool where I found a caring friend group.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago

People need hope that they can have a future and that it's one worth living. Without that, despair is a natural outcome. If our societies cared half as much about ordinary people as we do corporations and the military, there would be a lot less despair.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

rising cost of living wages not rising with them scam of a healthcare system you will own nothing unless you slave away for the rest of your days

Color me surprised

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The article only benchmarks the total number to percentage of Americans once then just talks about the total number increasing over time. It would be much more helpful to just see this as a relative percentage to total population as I'd expect that number to rise regardless as population continues to grow. Not disputing the data, but think that would be a better way to analyze it.

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