Government statistics rate heart disease and cancer as the leading causes of death in America today. No surprises there.
The company Effortless Insurance published a state-by-state study to determine its own primary causes of death and found similarities with prevailing data.
In addition, Effortless looked at what is called the top “most over-indexed cause of death,” which “represents a disproportionately high death rate within the state relative to the national rate.”
What they found did surprise them.
The study looked at 2017 data from the Centers for Disease Control. Most of what the analysis revealed wasn’t out of the ordinary, but one particular category gave them reason for pause.
The number one over-indexed cause of death in 15 states was intentional self-harm (suicide). Death by suicide was also in the overall top ten causes of death in America.
Suicide is one of two causes of death that have actually decreased life expectancy in our nation. The increased rate of accidental drug overdoses is the other.
There are various reasons for individuals to resort to suicide. This study found a link to geographic local, the highest rates being in Alaska and the Rocky Mountain region, now referred to as “the suicide belt.”
Contributing to the national rise in the rate of suicide is the growing number of states that have legalized physician assisted suicide. Combined with the decades-old practice of abortion on demand, the sacrosanct view of protecting innocent human life since America’s founding has undoubtedly dimmed.
One of the arguments by advocates of physician assisted suicide is that it would lower the incidence of suicide. But that has been proven to be a false assumption. An October issue of Southern Medical Journal, 2015 published a study called How Does Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide Affect Rates of Suicide? It compared states’ suicide rates before and after assisted suicide legislation had passed. It also compared states with and without assisted suicide, and the study found a rise in suicide of 6.3%. There was no reduction in suicide for young or old individuals and the legislation provided no delays in people committing suicide.
Our half-hour television program, Facing Life Head-On, looked at the topic of Physician Assisted Suicide, Part 1 and Part 2.
In another program we visited the issue of suicide, titled The Tragedy of Suicide.
Experts agree that death by suicide has increased to alarming rates. While there will likely never be unanimity on the causes for suicide, a return to a culture of life in America would be an excellent place to start.
Sincerely for life,
I believe abortion is even quite a lot higher as far as the leading cause of death — all around the world.
We certainly need more mental health care in our world.
My nephew 48 years old just committed suicide. Not planned at all. It is very heartbreaking to all who knew him as he was the most loving and caring person I have ever met. People with mental illness hide it because of shame and because of society. Too many people out there make fun of those with mental illness. I even overheard nurse making fun of a patient who was on meds while making his bed when I myself was hospitalized on the psychiatric floor at Met hospital. I wrote them a letter telling them that I myself struggle to take my meds and when they make fun of patients this makes it even harder for me to take them. Honestly, I was very angry and upset with those nurses. How would they like someone to make fun of their loved ones if they became mentally ill. It is a sickness and there is more and more people out there who suffer with it each day. When I was in the hospital I advocated for those who are unable to do so for themselves. Having had much depression in my younger years I truly feel for those going through this illness. Please please, inform people to get help and to not be ashamed. Many who commit suicide did not reach out on time. One doctor told me if you had heart disease would you take your meds. This kind of sickness is no different. I never questioned taking these meds again. Although I must say that some meds actually give suicidal and very weird thoughts. I know of a few people who did not like what they were thinking and the doctor wanted to hospitalize them but because they refused hospitalization they ended up committing suicide. I think that people who make these kinds of statements should not be given a choice as to hospitalization. It needs to be an automatic admittance until they are stable enough to go back home. And I am totally against Euthenasia and Abortion. God is in charge and He decides when we are to die. None of us has a right to take a life.
These are my thoughts. Thank you for the opportunity to express them.