The National Alliance on Mental Health recently published information about suicide rates and related connections that are often overlooked by the larger U.S. population.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has stated that 42,773 U.S. citizens die from suicide each year. This means 117 people commit suicide each day, on average.
Many people associate suicide with depression and mental illness; approximately 90 percent of adolescents and children who commit suicide do have a mental health condition. However, there are other significant factors that contribute to suicidal thoughts.
Statistics show that fishermen, farmers and foresters have a higher suicide rate than any other job within the U.S. Every year, there are 85 suicides for every 100,000 farmers in the U.S.
Health experts attribute this to feeling isolated -- farmers work alone for many hours -- and outside stressors like livestock disease, corporate agriculture, government legislation, climate change and poor harvests.
In addition, people who live at higher altitudes are more likely to commit suicide. Scientists think that low oxygen as well as thin air can be connected to higher suicide rates and depression. More than 2,500 U.S. counties were compared to find a strong positive connection between altitude and suicide.
Research also reveals other connections to suicide, including the economy, population and region.
