I’ve been reading in the news as of late that the current number of suicides have risen with the failing of the global economy, bankruptcies, and joblessness. Unfortunately for many people, this is a serious reality. For those feeling the pressure and needing to talk, hot-lines and counseling are highly recommended.

For a list of hot-lines by state, check out: www.suicide.org

According to one article:
Financial stress builds up to the point the person feels they can’t go on, and the person believes their family is better off dead than left without a financial support,” said Kristen Rand, legislative director of the Washington D.C.-based Violence Policy Center.

Dr. Edward Charlesworth, a clinical psychologist in Houston, said the current crisis is breeding a sense of chronic anxiety among people who feel helpless and panic-stricken, as well as angry that their government has let them down.

“They feel like in this great society that we live in we should have more protection for the individuals rather than just the corporation,” he said.

It’s not yet clear there is a statistical link between suicides and the financial downturn since there is generally a two-year lag in national suicide figures. But historically, suicides increase in times of economic hardship. And the current financial crisis is already being called the worst since the Great Depression.