Recession, unemployment dramatically increases risk of suicide

Carol Forsloff - Science finds a two to three times risk
of suicide in the mentally healthy population when a person is
unemployed.  The rate of long-term unemployment makes suicide a serious
issue, becoming increasingly pronounced in 2010.

Long-term unemployment means loss of homes, places to live, loss of contacts from

loss of communication devices and loss of self-concept.  With this comes
depression, without financial resources for help.

In an aimless circle, an individual is at risk for suicide, especially when there seems to be no end in sight, as CNN reported earlier this year regarding long-term unemployment.

We
all have heard about people jumping out of windows when the stock
market crashed in the 1920's.  Now there are stories on unemployment
forums of people who have killed themselves because the circle of despair, they believe, leaves them no alternative.

What
happens is that depression turns to anger, which is the face of
feelings of despair.  Anger is then displaced on families, friends and
even on talk forums, increasing even more the sense of frustration and
isolation.  That anger is often associated with workplace issues, either on the job or out of work and reflections on what one has lost in comparison with those who are still working.

That
person who looks through the proverbial window and sees satisfied
workers, feels isolated and angry.  It is that type of person who can
also "go postal" and rather than turn the violence on themselves, turn
it against others as well.

Last year Sodahead,
a well-known online newspaper - blog, reported on what they observed to
be a particularly horrendous event. "What a tragedy! The bodies of five
small children and their parents, all shot to death, in two upstairs
rooms of the family's home. The father shot and killed his 5 children,
wife, and then shot himself. The man left a note saying, "With no job
and 5 kids, better to end our lives." He also said on the note that he
blames his former company for getting laid off. Officials say man killed
family after he and his wife were terminated from jobs."

The
unemployment figures continue to stay high in the present recession,  as CNN reports,
with long-term unemployment growing.  This, mental health experts

declare, is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by communities.