Stefan Gingerich

these different age groups, people in their 50s, maybe they're managing college tuition, maybe they're managing adolescents who are having rebellious episodes and that's very stressful for them. Maybe they've lost their job at a certain point in their career and they really are down about starting over.

these different age groups, people in their 50s, maybe they're managing college tuition, maybe they're managing adolescents who are having rebellious episodes and that's very stressful for them. Maybe they've lost their job at a certain point in their career and they really are down about starting over.

Maybe it's all of those things all at once because what we often hear about suicide and we know about suicide is it's not usually one thing There's a tipping point. They talk about, you know, the drips filling a cup and finally you get enough drips in that cup and it overflows. It's not the one drip that overflowed it. It's all the drips before. It's the straw that broke the camel's back.

Maybe it's all of those things all at once because what we often hear about suicide and we know about suicide is it's not usually one thing There's a tipping point. They talk about, you know, the drips filling a cup and finally you get enough drips in that cup and it overflows. It's not the one drip that overflowed it. It's all the drips before. It's the straw that broke the camel's back.

It's not the single straw. It's all the straws before. And so each of those straws, each of those drips are going to be different depending on the age group. And there's a very good possibility that by the time you get to 60, 65, 70 years of age, many of those things you've gotten through, like you said, you've been able to survive them and adjust to them, and you've built up that resiliency.

It's not the single straw. It's all the straws before. And so each of those straws, each of those drips are going to be different depending on the age group. And there's a very good possibility that by the time you get to 60, 65, 70 years of age, many of those things you've gotten through, like you said, you've been able to survive them and adjust to them, and you've built up that resiliency.

But then also, nationally, these numbers are a little more reliable than in a population the size of Minnesota. 80, 85, 90 years old, those suicide rates are some of the highest in the country on a year-to-year basis. So there does seem to be these sort of peaks and valleys across the age spectrum with suicide rates.

But then also, nationally, these numbers are a little more reliable than in a population the size of Minnesota. 80, 85, 90 years old, those suicide rates are some of the highest in the country on a year-to-year basis. So there does seem to be these sort of peaks and valleys across the age spectrum with suicide rates.

And I think the reasons for that are very different depending on which age you're talking about.

And I think the reasons for that are very different depending on which age you're talking about.

So I'm gonna, go ahead. I think you're onto something. So as we mentioned at the top of the episode, my former job was with Stay Well Health Management in workplace wellbeing. And one of the questions that we would ask all the participants on the health assessment was different sources of stress.

So I'm gonna, go ahead. I think you're onto something. So as we mentioned at the top of the episode, my former job was with Stay Well Health Management in workplace wellbeing. And one of the questions that we would ask all the participants on the health assessment was different sources of stress.

And one day, you know, I was talking to some of my colleagues, and they're like, you know, I'm super stressed about this. I wonder if that shows up in the data, or is it just me, right? So I said, well, let's look. And we looked at the prevalence of each of these different stressors by age, and it was incredibly different. So childcare, obviously, that's a stressor for people who are in their

And one day, you know, I was talking to some of my colleagues, and they're like, you know, I'm super stressed about this. I wonder if that shows up in the data, or is it just me, right? So I said, well, let's look. And we looked at the prevalence of each of these different stressors by age, and it was incredibly different. So childcare, obviously, that's a stressor for people who are in their

late 20s, 30s, sometimes into their 40s, not at all when they're in their 50s and 60s and 70s, right? Been there, done that. Exactly, right. But job responsibilities, not as big of a stressor when you're in your 20s, starts to creep up in your 30s and then into your 40s and 50s, super common. So, like you said, depending on the age, the stressors are different.

late 20s, 30s, sometimes into their 40s, not at all when they're in their 50s and 60s and 70s, right? Been there, done that. Exactly, right. But job responsibilities, not as big of a stressor when you're in your 20s, starts to creep up in your 30s and then into your 40s and 50s, super common. So, like you said, depending on the age, the stressors are different.

Depending on the stressor, you're going to see a very different age profile. And I think when you're thinking about preventing suicide in a given age group, you have to factor that in and understand where those people are coming from. And that's true of racial differences, of gender differences, geographic differences, everything.

Depending on the stressor, you're going to see a very different age profile. And I think when you're thinking about preventing suicide in a given age group, you have to factor that in and understand where those people are coming from. And that's true of racial differences, of gender differences, geographic differences, everything.

Yes, yes, that is true. One of my favorite charts to show people, you know, this is a podcast. And so all my cool visuals are just really useless. On the plus side, I didn't have to shave today. So I'm really happy about that.

Yes, yes, that is true. One of my favorite charts to show people, you know, this is a podcast. And so all my cool visuals are just really useless. On the plus side, I didn't have to shave today. So I'm really happy about that.