Suicide Increases

This paper asks a question which has an obvious answer–why is the suicide rate rising rapidly, particularly among younger Americans.  The chart is a little hard to read because the lines are years when it would have been easier to read if they were the age groups, but it is clear in the ages 15 to 35 we have seen a large jump in the rate.  And suicides are understated because many intentional drug overdoses are treated as accidental.  The authors run through several possible causes, while ignoring the obvious one.  These young people have been subjected to racist, divisive, gender confusing, indoctrination for their entire lives, amplified by addictive social media run by whacko ideologues or the Chinese government.  It is astounding that in this milieu more haven’t decided to end their lives rather than be subjected to more of the same.  We give these younger people no education, no training for real jobs, no sense of purpose or meaning for their lives–just nihilism and hate.  So don’t expect the suicide rate to change until we change the education system and put severe limits on social media.   (NBER Paper)