A generation of baby boomers who have faced years of economic worry and easy access to prescription painkillers may be particularly vulnerable to self-inflicted harm.
Some of the comments in the article are very sad. Many mention economic factors, and others speculate on a broader picture of our American society, where our identity is tied to the what, not the whom: We lose our jobs, we lose our identity, and therefore have no further reason to live. Negativity harbors negativity, depression is a downward spiral. I don't particularly see suicide as tragic... I'm supportive of euthanasia. I know that at some point, my senses will be dulled, my cognitive ability reduced, and I'll most likely suffer from some disease or another. Why should I continue to live in pain and in fear? Death, or rather a more permanent sleep, seems like a better option when you're tired and old. There are a lot of factors at play, and we'll most likely never know them, but the best thing we can do is continue recording and searching for ways to mitigate the issue.