Black American Suicide

Many view America as the best country in the world. There are so many different perspectives of life in America. This country is developed from the roots of many different cultures. This country is a place of freedom, opportunity, and hope. America is a place where everyone from different backgrounds

Suicide was seen as a just way to die if one was faced with unendurable suffering - be it physical or emotional”. Throughout time, suicide has been viewed and dealt with in countless ways. Recently in America, the problem has grown increasingly. In the past decade, suicide rates have been on the incline; especially among men. According to the New York Times (2013), “From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans ages 35 to 64 rose by nearly 30 percent… The suicide rate for middle-aged men was 27.3 deaths per 100,000, while for women it was 8.1 deaths per 100,000”. A 30 percent increase with an average of 19 more male suicides than female suicides is certainly an issue for both genders, and an epidemic for men. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (n.d.), found that in 2010, 38,364 suicides were reported, with 78.9% being men. The economic recession, unemployment, and various other factors are speculated to be responsible for this incline in male suicide. As of 2010, an estimated 30,308 men ended their own lives, and it seems as if there is a great risk of that number increasing each year.

Why Middle-Aged White Males Death Rate Is Rising Over the past decade suicide rates have been either stagnant or have been decreasing over all of the demographics of people. One demographic of people's suicide rate, on the other hand, has risen at a substantial rate. Scientists and researchers have just started studying this trend and have yet to draw one specific reason on why middle aged white males suicide rates are climbing. The suicide rate for this demographic of people has just surpassed the deaths by automobile accidents. This recent epidemic has got many researchers and scientists asking the question of “why?”.

Summary Low suicide and eating disorder rates among African Americans suggest that, individuals of the African American community may have effective coping mechanisms to help protect against such pathological behaviors. It is proposed that one of the main mechanisms is the continued dependence on Afrocentric identification versus a more Eurocentric one. Thus, it is the aim of this study to investigate if and under what conditions ethnic identification becomes a predictor of suicide in African American men and eating disorder symptomatology in African American women.

There is a dramatic difference between the suicide rates of Caucasians and Non- Caucasian individuals. There are multiple reasons as to why that could be. One of the possible reasons for that stems from how our very society has been formed. When looking at the history, specifically here in the United States, we find that many Non-Caucasian groups of individuals have suffered at the hands of Caucasians in some way shape or form. Through that suffering, there was something that developed within those groups of people, resilience, strength, flexibility, and toughness. Non-Caucasian groups of people, for the most part, are use to the struggle that comes with being a minority so when all these hardships are happening, they do what their

Suicide rate is a grow problem in the United States according to the American foundation for suicide prevention more than 41,149 suicides were reported in 2013. The highest rate of suicides is committed by adults between age 45-64 and this is especially true amongst the elderly. Older adults are inflected with a terminal disease, loneness and depression and because of this they are committing suicide at a higher rate. Suicide amongst the men is steadily higher than women, in 2013, 77.9% were male and 22.1% were female. Men success rate for suicide is much higher, because their attempt is more lethal, for example, men are more than likely to shot themselves, whereas women are more likely to use poisons to end their life. Suicide Rate committed race/ethnicity was higher among Whites 14.2%, American Indians and Alaska Natives 11.7%, Asians and Pacific Islanders 5.8%, Blacks 5.4% and Hispanics 5.7%. According to the mean method used to commit suicide is a firearm, then suffocation and poisoning. The main cause of suicide is due to mental health condition and depression is at the foremost leading factor.

According to research, California State Fullerton professor Eliza Noh states that Asian-American women of the age 15 to 24 have the highest rates of suicide than any other racial, ethnic, or gender group. The “model minority” pressure—“socially produced pressure internalized by families of some Asian-American children to be high achievers at school and professionally”—plays a large factor to the issue, especially since girls, who are more affected by it than boys, are expected to become the “perfect mother, daughter, wife and get only A’s in school and choose the right type of job,” (Cruz 1). Noh adds on, saying that Asian-American women have a tendency “to ignore or deny stress, depression and other mental health problems” which “can

Introduction: Attention Getter: Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. surpassed by accidents and homicide. (According to Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention)

Suicide has become a major issue amongst African-American adolescent males. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys age 13 to 17 (CDC, 2014). That is above the number of deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV and diabetes (CDC, WISQARS 2016.). Additionally, CDC reports for 2014 there were 68 African-American adolescent males that completed suicide and 1131 reported attempts for that year (CDC, WISQARS 2016). This is a significant number, although not all suicide attempts are reported (Joiner, 2005). Furthermore, suicide accounted for 10 percent of deaths of adolescents in 2014 reports (CDC, WISQARS 2016).

iSuicide has become a major issue amongst African-American adolescent males. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys age 13 to 17 (CDC, 2014). That is above the number of deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV, and diabetes (CDC, WISQARS 2016.). Additionally, CDC reports for 2014 there were 68 African-American adolescent males that completed suicide and 1131 reported attempts for that year (CDC, WISQARS 2016). This is a significant number, although not all suicide attempts are reported (Joiner, 2005). Furthermore, suicide accounted for 10 percent of deaths of adolescents in 2014 reports (CDC, WISQARS 2016).

Depression and suicide are two significant global public health concerns. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that there are 350 million people that suffer from depression (WHO, 2015a). Also, over 800,000 deaths from suicides occur each year (WHO, 2015b). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, year), approximately 18.8 million (9.5 percent) American adults, have a depressive disorder each year (CDC, 2013b). The CDC (2015) also reported that in 2014, there were 42,773 suicides representing a rate of 12.93 per 100,000 persons. Depression and suicide are common among African Americans. According to The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Brief report, depression rates are highest

“Gone too soon” are the words often used following the tragedy of death. Within the past few years, black Americans have been specifically targeted as victims of racial hate crimes. In 2016, more than 250 black Americans were killed by police (Huffington Post). The deaths of black Americans have become an epidemic, one that will have lasting effects on society. One effect is that of the “Black Lives Matter” movement which was birthed after the murder of an unarmed black teen in Sanford, FL. On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin was fatally shot by a neighborhood watchman while walking home from a convenience store. In “Skittles for Trayvon: A Diminishing Suite in Verse”, Lillian Bertram paints a vivid depiction of the events leading

Running head: HIDDEN SECRETS 1 HIDDEN SECRETS 2 Hidden Secrets: A look into Substance Use and Its Effects on Suicidality in African-American Boys Cashell Lewis George Warren Brown School of Social Work Washington University in St. Louis Introduction Suicide has become a major issue in Black adolescents. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black boys age 13 to 17 (CDC, 2014). That surpasses the number of deaths due to chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV and diabetes (CDC, 2014.). Additionally, CDC reports show that in 2014 there were 68 adolescents that completed suicide and 1131 reported attempts (CDC, 2014). This is a significant number, although not all suicide attempts are reported (Joiner, 2015). Furthermore, suicide accounted for 10 percent of deaths of adolescents in 2014 (CDC, 2014).

Stand to Live Life is a cyclical journey of ups and downs; some of us have a difficult time getting through it in good spirits. However we get through it, and if we’re lucky, we grow old with a story to tell. Some of us just don’t make it; our lives

Suicide and suicidal behaviors have befallen all cultures, nations, and religions throughout history and appear in all socio-cultural, demographic and economic groups. Despite extensive attempts to prevent disastrous fatalities by suicide, our capability to understand and successfully prevent such acts has been difficult and continues to be a complex problem.