Year: 2010 Source: Public Health Reports, v.125, no.5, (September-October 2010), p.680-688 SIEC No: 20100979

Trends in suicide rates for American residents, aged 40-59 years, were examined for the period 1979-2005 & alternative explanations were explored for the notable increase in such deaths from 1999-2005. The timing of the post-1999 increase coincided with the complete replacement of the American middle-age strata by the postwar baby boom cohorts, whose youngest members turned 40 years of age by 2005. These cohorts also had notably high suicide rates during their adolescent years. Cohort replacement may explain the crossover in rates among the younger & older middle-aged groups. However, there is evidence for a period effect operating between 1999-2005, one that was apparently specific to less-protected members of the baby boom cohort. (39 refs.) JA