"Is suicide on the rise, or just a more transparent society...? 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world's #271)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer

 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.

Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i

with his best friend and spiritual adviser Ivanka-Obama, The Bipartisan Dog!

A somewhat stormy Sunrise

Friday, 10-12-18

Photo courtesy,

James "Kimo" Rosen

Publishers note;
Suicide  was the seventh leading cause of death for males and the 14th leading cause of death for females in 2015. Suicide is a major national public health issue in the United States. In 2016, there were 44,965 recorded suicides. For anyone even thinking suicide there is a national suicide prevention lifeline with help 24-7. The toll free number is  
1-800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK)
James "Kimo" Rosen
Publisher/Blogger-n-chief~dakinetalk blog

Is suicide on the rise, or  just a more transparent society?  



      Blog #2024~Kimo's world's #271 

The Garden Island news recently editorialized on how the suicide rate is the highest it’s ever been. They went on to say; "The suicide death rate last year was the highest it’s been in at least 50 years, according to U.S. government records.

The world needs more of this! 

"This is an area of huge concern on Kauai, where young people can be overwhelmed with hopelessness." May I add not only of crave concern to the young  but  our middle aged and kupuna population as well.

  
The opioid epidemic has also been devastating.  Pregnancy-associated mortality has more than doubled in the past decade. Even the rate of death from heart disease, which had been falling, has leveled off. And according to a CNN study guns kill nearly 1,300 US children each year. Gun deaths have added dramatically to the suicide statistic along with accidental overdoes form the opioid crisis.
http://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/11/29/opinion/rising-suicides-drug-use-a-call-to-get-involved/

National suicide prevention lifeline
(800-273-TALK)

Suicide is hard on the loved ones of the deceased.  Often going through depressions and issues of their own.   
Suicide can be prevented and hopefully those with tendencies will seek help.  
 I believe suicide numbers are not necessarily as high as most  studies suggest.  The stats and numbers tell you so, yes.  That’s because we now live in a transparent "tell all"society.  

When I was a child I had a close relative commit suicide.  I never found out until I was an adult.  I was told at the time along with  other relatives and the general public he had died of a heart attack, the obituary in the newspaper said the same.  Plus being Jewish, you cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery if you commit suicide and also many life insurance policies are null and void for suicide. 
 'Ask Moses,' Can a suicide victim be buried in a Jewish cemetery? (for the record)
 http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/165,1311/Can-a-suicide-victim-be-buried-in-a-Jewish-cemetery.html
How many suicides go unreported and are disguised in the ending as heart attacks, strokes, natural causes  or something else on the death certificates? These days, most likely not very many, but back when I was a lad, suicide was frowned upon and families were shamed, suicide was disguised whenever possible.
Yes, suicide is a tragic, but is it really on the rise or has it always been rampant or do we now just live in a more transparent  society?
This time of year can be especially hard on those combating depression and thoughts of suicide.

For anyone even thinking suicide there is a national suicide prevention lifeline with help 24-7. The toll free number is  
1-800-273-8255. (800-273-TALK) Wishing everyone a  Mele Kalikimaka and a Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

This blog also appeared in the 12-28-18 edition

of the Garden Island news! 

"Increased suicide rate needs closer look"

http://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/12/28/opinion/increased-suicide-rate-needs-closer-look/

Public Service Announcement!

P.S.

Give up your Smartphone for one year and win 100-K

Let’s be honest: there’s a good chance that you’re reading this article on a smartphone right now. There’s also a good chance

that you’ve been somewhat tethered to your smartphone fr

om the moment you woke up this morning. In today’s digital age, and thanks to social networking apps like Facebook, there’s no denying that our reliance upon and addiction to smartphones has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade.

With that said, do you think you could go a full day without using your smartphone? How about a week or, say, a month? How about a full year? While most people would likely scoff at the idea of trading in their smartphone for a flip phone for a full year, what if someone was willing to make it worth your while? What if someone was willing to pay you $100,000 to give up your smartphone for 365 days? Well, now we’ve got ourselves a hypothetical worth exploring.

The only thing is, this isn’t a hypothetical. Vitamin-Water this week announced a new contest where a lucky contestant (or unlucky depending on your perspective) can win 100 grand for returning to a mid-2000's era feature phone.

https://bgr.com/2018/12/13/vitaminwater-100000-contest-give-up-smartphone-for-a-year/

Hana Hou, (Encore)

Heads up to Hawai'i and the rest of America!

And finally some comedy relief!  ;-)

German engineering!  ;-)