Junk journalism again spread by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health!
However, if the upward trend of suicides by older Americans (see chart below) is confirmed, then this is a serious issue. However, I suspect something changed in how this statistical data is collected, which may have contributed to this trend. Or in other words, older data may not be comparable to newer data. I don't have the time to investigate.
Maybe older Canadians and Mexicans e.g. use other means of suicide? How reliable are the suicide statistics of Mexico and Canada? How often are what appears to be a natural death are actually a sort of suicide by other means (e.g. not taking critical medications etc.)?
"Firearm Suicides Among Older Americans
Gun suicides among Americans ages 70+ have risen steadily from 2009 to 2023, claiming 63,836 lives over that period, finds a new analysis of CDC data.
The trend worries researchers, as the demographic makes up a growing share of the U.S. population.
Behind the uptick: A range of factors impacting older people: severe illness, isolation, lack of mental health support, financial pressures, and easy access to firearms.
The U.S. has a much higher suicide rate among older adults than Mexico or Canada, which have stricter gun laws.
Most at risk: Older white men in rural areas.
Possible interventions: Doctors can do more to assess their older patients’ mental health and connect them to resources, say advocates. Gun sellers can also provide screening and resources."
The Quiet Crisis: What’s Driving Gun Suicides Among Older Americans? (original news release
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