Why are suicide rates higher among the wealthy than among the poor?

Question

http://durkheim.itgo.com/suicide.html

Answer 1

I don't know what the statistic's are but I do know that my brother committed suicide by hanging two years ago and he was well off financially.
But I don't believe it had anything to do with finances. It had to do with his state of mind at the time.
He was having major issues in his marriage and they were married for 25 yrs.
He was also drunk at the time when he normally did not drink. That is why I say it is from the state of mind at the time.

Answer 2

Because wealth is not a true source of happiness.

Most studies show that above the level needed to ensure that you can eat, have a roof over your head that doesn't leak, and can wear clothes suitable for the climate and keep clean, money variables show no correlation (plus or minus) with measures of happiness.

On the other hand, maybe people who make lots of money are disproportionately those who emotionally neglect themselves and/or their families, so when something "goes wrong" they don't have the inner resources.

Or maybe suicide is neutral to all economic variables but factors which actively lead to low suicide rates such as committed spirituality, choosing to value peace of mind, and loyalty in personal relationships are rarer among the wealthy?

Answer 3

Perhaps because they develop a conscience and realize all the people they exploited and cheated? Or, the fear of losing it all? Or the fear of not being considered one of the "beautiful people" as the rich often refer to themselves?

Those statistics are so flawed! First, there are many ways of committing suicide, prolonged drug use or prolonged alcoholism and how about the living under stress as most poor and struggling people do for many years only to die prematurely... that's a form of suicide that is not mentioned!

Answer 4

Because money doesn't buy happiness, but poor people can still maintain the delusion that it does. It's easier for the wealthy person to feel that there's nothing to gain to make them happy again, and become totally depressed. Poor people still have this funny illusion that if they keep on living and working hard, they may one day be rich (and thus happy).

Answer 5

Sir happiness is a state of mind. Many wealthy folks have more pressures and more temptations that can lead them to ruin. A garbage man can be happy. and a dr. can be depressed everyday. Finances have nothing to do with the state of mind.

Answer 6

Because really rich people think they are smarter..because they were able to make it in life ..they are usually selfish and shallow...and think they got the whole world by the ***...when what it really takes to be human is asking god to help them be less arrogant...i actually pitty them ..they hide behind their own charade of ugliness ...they are to be pittied and then when a poor person comes along and trys to be friend them they only look down on us and try to make us feel even smaller ...rich people suck...

Answer 7

Rich people are miserable, lonely people on the inside and they are never happy with what they have, they think they have to have the best of the best of everything and money cant buy happiness. The people who have less material things are generally happier people. They appreciate the things that they do have because they have to work hard to get them, they dont have everything handed to them. Its sickening.

Answer 8

Is it possible that wealth is also an indicator of lack of faith or religion? I don't have any stats, but it seems to me more people from the middle and lower class go to church than people from the upper and upper middle class.

And eternal damnation is a pretty good motivator to not kill yourself!

Answer 9

I don't agree with your premise, but if it is factual I would say the poor are too busy trying to survive day to day.

Answer 10

They can not bear they are some times feel very very loosing and till they come up they are happy .but when trou they can not bear and have heart problems and so they succumb