Psy 270 Appendix E

University of Phoenix Material

Appendix E

Suicide

Respond to the following based on the information in the “Suicide Rates by Age Group” article:

1. What has been the trend in suicide rates over the past few years?

The trend from 1999 to 2010 showed that individuals between the ages of 35-64 years old suicide rate increased 28.4% from previously 13.7%. With race the biggest increase was those who were American Indian/Native American.

2. What part of the U.S. has the highest suicide rate?

The part of the United States that had the highest suicide rate was Alaska. In 2007 for every 100,000 people in Alaska, 21.8 people died by suicide.

3. List three risk factors for suicide.

The top three risk factors for suicide are those who suffer from mental disorders, previous attempts, and anxiety.

4. Many researchers worry that suicide rates for adolescents and older adults continue to increase. What does the research data show about these age groups?

Research shows that after a survey was done that children in school ranging from grades 9 through, 16% of those students reported seriously considering suicide, 13% reported creating a plan, and 8% reported trying to take their own life in the past 12 months prior of the survey. Each year, approximately 157,000 youth between the ages of 10 and 24 receive medical care for self inflicted injuries at Emergency Departments across the U.S.

5. In the U.S., what demographic has the highest rate of suicide?

The demographic that had the highest rate of suicides were Alaska. Alaska has lots of rural wilderness, very cold weather, and as mentioned in a previous question a higher population of American Indian/Native Americans.

6. List four possible reasons for the observed decrease in suicide rates.

The four possible reasons for the decrease in suicide rates resulting from a decline in substance abuse, declined number of those who suffered from poverty, healthier...