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0 pointschillingeffect7y ago0 comments

> strong relationship between suicide and mental illness

You're not wrong, but do note that the first paper you cited was from 2003. The CDC results published recently [1] indicate a strong rise in suicide since 1999. And more than half of the people didn't have a known mental health condition. It looks like things are changing.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/index.html

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jdietrich7y ago

"Known mental health condition" is the key sticking point. The CDC's data relies on reports from coroners, medical examiners and law enforcement agencies. The study I cited was based on psychological autopsies, which includes interviews with family members and health care personnel. It is highly likely that many of the people that the CDC identify as having no known mental health condition were either undiagnosed or had kept their diagnosis private. Much of the growth in the suicide rate has come from older working-class men, who are far less likely to seek treatment for mental health problems or to talk to their families about mental health.

Alex39177y ago

> It is highly likely that many of the people that the CDC identify as having no known mental health condition were either undiagnosed or had kept their diagnosis private.

Given that the vast majority of Americans have a diagnosable mental illness at some point during their lives, if anything that is evidence against there being a strong relationship between mental illness and suicide. E.g. supposedly more than 50% of college students have a diagnosable mental illness during those four years alone.

yebyen7y ago

Is it possible that the fact of receiving a diagnosis is more strongly correlated with the likelihood of getting help than you accounted for? Also, what is "diagnosable" – that sounds suspiciously different than "diagnosed." That doesn't even sound like a statistic that tracks against individuals, so I don't know how you could make an inference like that.

Even if we saw the statistical effect you predicted (eg. diagnosed mental health issues correlated with a lower rate of suicide), you should consider that the stigma of getting a diagnosis of mental illness, is likely to cause some people who may even know they have a problem, to intentionally avoid getting diagnosed.

Also, these: "I can't seek help because if I do have a mental health issue then my insurance is going to skyrocket / I don't have any health insurance / my insurance doesn't cover mental health."

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