Suicide rates for Americans aged 45 to 54 increased almost 20 percent between 1999 and 2004, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking an all-time high for this age group since the organization began tracking suicide rates in 1980. Suicides by hanging and poisoning accounted for much of the figure, with respective increases of 48 and 23.7 percent. The increase was especially pronounced in women, who experience the highest suicide rate in middle age. Men, meanwhile, were most likely to die by suicide during retirement.
REPORT: Increases in Age-Group--Specific Injury Mortality --- United States, 1999--2004