Hello Mary

   Thank You Kindly for stopping by and posting here. I really appreciate your support in my forums.

   Friends, there is no tragedy worse than that associated with suicide. It hurts so many people and leaves many people in it's wake with terrible feelings of shame and guilt and at times, even leads to more suicides being committed. Perhaps the worst part of this tragedy is that suicide is so preventable. In most cases it could be prevented with a little understanding and love. It is particularly sad when our children die so needlessly. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for our teenagers and to be honest, the main reasons for this are the lack of understanding that this problem even exists and the stigma associated with mental illness that prevents people from seeking help when they need it. SO, this is the reason why I try so hard to educate people about mental illness. For everyone who takes the time to learn about mental illness there comes an opportunty to possibly save someones life. I thank you all, who are concerned enough to try to do something to end this terrible tragedy. I for one, would most likely not still be around if it weren't for the kindness and understanding of the people like yourselves who have crossed my path during my journey through life.

    Here is some more information that you can study and pass along to others. Together, we can really make a difference in peoples lives. For so many of us who have yet to discover our purpose in life, what better purpose could we have than to help save the lives of others.

Occurrence

• Most popular press articles suggest a link between the winter holidays and suicides (Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania 2003). However, this claim is just a myth. In fact, suicide rates in the United States are lowest in the winter and highest in the spring (CDC 1985, McCleary et al. 1991, Warren et al. 1983).
• Suicide took the lives of 30,622 people in 2001 (CDC 2004).
• Suicide rates are generally higher than the national average in the western states and lower in the eastern and midwestern states (CDC 1997).
• In 2002, 132,353 individuals were hospitalized following suicide attempts; 116,639 were treated in emergency departments and released (CDC 2004).
• In 2001, 55% of suicides were committed with a firearm (Anderson and Smith 2003).
   

Groups At Risk

Males

• Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for all U.S. men (Anderson and Smith 2003).
• Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than females (CDC 2004).
• Suicide rates are highest among Whites and second highest among American Indian and Native Alaskan men (CDC 2004).
• Of the 24,672 suicide deaths reported among men in 2001, 60% involved the use of a firearm (Anderson and Smith 2003).

Females

• Women report attempting suicide during their lifetime about three times as often as men (Krug et al. 2002).

Youth
The overall rate of suicide among youth has declined slowly since 1992 (Lubell, Swahn, Crosby, and Kegler 2004). However, rates remain unacceptably high. Adolescents and young adults often experience stress, confusion, and depression from situations occurring in their families, schools, and communities. Such feelings can overwhelm young people and lead them to consider suicide as a “solution.” Few schools and communities have suicide prevention plans that include screening, referral, and crisis intervention programs for youth.

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24. In 2001, 3,971 suicides were reported in this group (Anderson and Smith 2003).
• Of the total number of suicides among ages 15 to 24 in 2001, 86% (n=3,409) were male and 14% (n=562) were female (Anderson and Smith 2003).
• American Indian and Alaskan Natives have the highest rate of suicide in the 15 to 24 age group (CDC 2004).
• In 2001, firearms were used in 54% of youth suicides (Anderson and Smith 2003).

The Elderly
Suicide rates increase with age and are very high among those 65 years and older. Most elderly suicide victims are seen by their primary care provider a few weeks prior to their suicide attempt and diagnosed with their first episode of mild to moderate depression (DHHS 1999). Older adults who are suicidal are also more likely to be suffering from physical illnesses and be divorced or widowed (DHHS 1999; Carney et al. 1994; Dorpat et al. 1968).

• In 2001, 5,393 Americans over age 65 committed suicide. Of those, 85% (n=4,589) were men and 15% (n=804) were women (CDC 2004).
• Firearms were used in 73% of suicides committed by adults over the age of 65 in 2001 (CDC 2004).

Risk Factors

The first step in preventing suicide is to identify and understand the risk factors. A risk factor is anything that increases the likelihood that persons will harm themselves. However, risk factors are not necessarily causes. Research has identified the following risk factors for suicide (DHHS 1999):

• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of mental disorders, particularly depression
• History of alcohol and substance abuse
• Family history of suicide
• Family history of child maltreatment
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
• Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
• Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
• Physical illness
• Easy access to lethal methods
• Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or suicidal thoughts
• Cultural and religious beliefs—for instance, the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma
• Local epidemics of suicide
• Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people
   

Protective Factors

Protective factors buffer people from the risks associated with suicide. A number of protective factors have been identified (DHHS 1999):

• Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking
• Family and community support
• Support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation instincts

References

Anderson RN, Smith BL. Deaths: leading causes for 2001. National Vital Statistics Report 2003;52(9):1-86.

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Suicide and the Media. Available online from: URL: http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/07_adolescent_risk/suicide/dec14%20suicide%20report.htm.

Carney SS, Rich CL, Burke PA, Fowler RC. Suicide over 60: the San Diego study. Journal of American Geriatric Society 1994;42:174-80.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Suicide Surveillance, 1970-1980. (1985).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Regional variations in suicide rates—United States 1990–1994, August 29, 1997. MMWR 1997;46(34):789-92. Available online from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00049117.htm. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (producer). Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2004). Available online from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars/default.htm.  [2004 June 21accessed].

Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s call to action to prevent suicide. Washington (DC): Department of Health and Human Services; 1999. Available online from: URL: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calltoaction/default.htm. 

Dorpat TL, Anderson WF, Ripley HS. The relationship of physical illness to suicide. In: Resnik HP, editor. Suicide behaviors: diagnosis and management. Boston (MA): Little, Brown, and Co.; 1968:209-19.

Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R, editors. World report on violence and health [serial online]. 2004 May. Available online from: URL: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/wrvh1/en. 

Lubell KM, Swahn MH, Crosby AE, Kegler SR. Methods of suicide among persons aged 10-19 years—United States, 1992-2001. MMWR 2004;53:471-473. Available online from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5322.pdf. 

McCleary R, Chew K, Hellsten JJ, Flunn-Bransford M. Age-and Sec-Specific Cycles in United States Suicides, 1973-1985. American Journal of Public Health 1991;81: 1494-7.

Warren CW, Smith JC, Tyler CW. Seasonal Variation in Suicide and Homicide: A Question of Consistency. Journal of Biosocial Sciences 1983;15:349-356.

Greetings All

   Can you imagin how you would feel if you went to the hospital for cancer treatment and were told that since you have cancer, you will have to pay a 50% copayment rather than the usual 20%. If you had heart desease instead of cancer, your share of the cost for treatment would be 30% less. How unfair would medicare coverage be if the amount they paid out was determined by the type of illness rather than by how much you needed the care perscribed for your condition. This would be a very unfair and discriminating system wouldn't it? Well this is exactly how the medicare system discriminates against those with a mental illness. Copayments for mental illness are higher than those for any other type of illness. This is unjust and has to be changed. Members of congress do realize the need for mental health coverage because they have that coverage for themselves. Why are they entitled to better care and treatment at less cost than we are. Remember, they are our employees. They work for us, not the other way around.

Asclepios

Your Weekly Medicare Consumer Advocacy Update

Unfair Treatment

October 26, 2006 • Volume 6, Issue 43

If a person with Medicare who has cancer goes to an oncologist for chemotherapy, Medicare will provide for 80 percent of the cost of treatment; the patient pays 20 percent.

If a person with Medicare needs to get an MRI at a doctor's office, Medicare pays 80 percent and the patient pays 20 percent.

But if a person with Medicare is suffering from severe depression, schizophrenia or another mental health condition and seeks the services of a psychiatrist, Medicare will only cover half-the patient must pay 50 percent.

Medicare's rules unfairly and unjustifiably restrict coverage for mental health care. Because of the payment limitation, older adults and people with disabilities who can't afford the higher costs of therapy and treatment end up without the care they need.

The results of leaving mental illnesses untreated are grim: a reduced quality of life and ability to function, poorer overall health and higher mortality rates. Untreated mental illness can also force individuals to become institutionalized, triggering greater costs to Medicare.

The lack of mental health parity under Medicare clearly does not match up with well-established medical need. One in five older adults and over half of people with Medicare because of a disability are living with a mental health condition. Older adults account for almost 20 percent of all suicides-the highest rate in the country-with depression as a major risk factor. Interventions such as psychotherapy and counseling are effective in treating mental illness.

Medicare's unequal coverage of mental heath services is based on an outdated understanding of mental illness as less legitimate and less important to treat than other ailments. Many other types of health insurance also continue to maintain antiquated rules for mental health care coverage, with one notable exception: the coverage offered to federal government employees. The health plan for federal employees was updated a few years ago to mandate equal coverage for the treatment of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders.

That is the coverage all members of Congress have.

It's time that our elected representatives in the U.S. Senate and House also improve access to mental health care for people with Medicare. Congress must put Medicare payment for mental health services on par with its payment for other kinds of outpatient care.

In response to a survey conducted by the Medicare Rights Center ahead of the upcoming elections, candidates in various campaigns around the country have expressed their support for legislation to establish mental health parity in Medicare. These candidates recognize that people with Medicare in need of mental health treatment should be relieved of the disproportionate burden they face in paying for health care (Survey results ).

The inequality in Medicare's coverage policy amounts to systematic discrimination against individuals with mental illnesses. Congress has the ability to improve Medicare coverage for those individuals, just as improvements were made to their own mental health care coverage.

Medical Record

http://geotenncare.blogspot.com/2006/10/discrimination-exists-in-medicare-big.html