In the NY Times:
'Midlife Suicide Rises, Puzzling Researchers'
Mr. Neal is part of an unusually large increase in suicides among middle-aged Americans in recent years. Just why thousands of men and women have crossed the line between enduring life’s burdens and surrendering to them is a painful question for their loved ones. But for officials, it is a surprising and baffling public health mystery.A new five-year analysis of the nation’s death rates recently released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the suicide rate among 45-to-54-year-olds increased nearly 20 percent from 1999 to 2004, the latest year studied, far outpacing changes in nearly every other age group. (All figures are adjusted for population.)
OK, one comment. If only they approached other complex statistical questions with the same delicacy.
They're baffled because they're not in the appropriate cohort. I'm not surprised that they're baffled. I'm surprised they don't deny the data.
In this case, I think they're more careful because
1) It's not a page-grabber, so it's probably not competing for headline news, where editors might strip an article of debate for something that appears more sinister
2) Middle aged men are their primary readership. The last thing they want to do is insult their last purchasing audience.
"Women and minorities hardest hit!"
We are told early in the article that the rate of increase in suicide is higher amongst women than men. Much later -- after the fold -- we are told that four fifths of the suicides are of men. We are never told about the suicide rate of White versus non-White people, even though there is a factor of two here and the Times is obsessed with race. The article gives no link to the actual data or even to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (It does, however, give a link to other Times articles about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
"Bush administration spurs surge in suicide rates. Experts point to tax cuts, judicial nominees."