[FODRemake?]

the New York Times this past weekend, reporting that for the second year in a row now, baby boomers have suffered the highest rate of suicide in the United States. In the past, those 80 and older had been most likely to take their own lives, but since 2006, boomers in the 45-54 year-old range have been killing themselves at a record pace.

CDC.gov shows that the 45-to-54 age group had a suicide rate of 17.6 per every 100,000 people. The second highest was the 75-to-84 age range, with a rate of 16.4, followed by those between 35 and 44, with a 16.3.

What was more saddening to me were the comments that followed the story from around the web:

“This world is rapidly becoming unlivable. I promised my late parents that I would never commit suicide or I’d be making such plans”
-Anonymous

“you know you are destined for a cardboard box to live in or a cheap poorly run nursing home…thats what its like for many of us out there in CorporateAmericaLand” -Anonymous

“One of my neighbors mentioned that she hates to see her social security statement, because her survivor benefits for her young family are more than her current income. She says it means she’s worth more dead than alive.” -Anonymous

I found myself wondering how people in this great generation have found themselves in such misery that they question the value of life. I hope a site like babyboomers.com succeeds in its mission to unite baby boomers. It is more important now than it’s ever been.

[jacob beghner]

I wonder if suicide rates are making their rise from something other than a financial standpoint.

[luton loyal]

[vexacon]

After seeing their savings disappear, I guess they thought, "I'm to old to go back to work, screw this!"

[stephaniewalker]

It is terrible but despair makes people do desperate things.

[Zambini]

I'm feeling it myself, I can't really put the finger on why but I've been thinking about it more and more lately...It seems to be the easy option, the only obstacle is how it would hurt my family.

[kellyhound]

Prolly caused by depression due to physical limitations and loneliness at older age and not getting on with todays technology ?

[bigmikeymike]

probably because they're seeing how much they fucked this country up.

[collaredgirl65]

I think it has to do with the fact that we don't really have financial stability in this day and age. Our parents generation could count on their jobs more then we can. The longer they were with a company, the more loyalty the company had to them. That no longer exist. And if we do lose our jobs, we are at an age that we are less likely to be hired. It leaves for a bleak outlook. I myself lost my job and had to use up my retirement savings. I am now part owner of a business that pays enough to live on, but doesn't leave much to save for retirement. Leaves me with nothing to really look forward to.

[Zambini]

Originally Posted by collaredgirl65 ↗

I think it has to do with the fact that we don't really have financial stability in this day and age. Our parents generation could count on their jobs more then we can. The longer they were with a company, the more loyalty the company had to them. That no longer exist. And if we do lose our jobs, we are at an age that we are less likely to be hired. It leaves for a bleak outlook. I myself lost my job and had to use up my retirement savings. I am now part owner of a business that pays enough to live on, but doesn't leave much to save for retirement. Leaves me with nothing to really look forward to.

Lotta stories like this nowadays