Baby boomers are killing themselves at an alarming rate, raising question: Why?

[RobinA]

35. I'm a Mid-50's Boomer

I have a job and will probably be able to eat human food in retirement, although I have just recently begun to believe that I will not be residing on a steam grate, something I have believed all my life. The thing for me, and I am not suicidal, is that everything just sucks these days. We were raised in the post-war economic boom, which was more than just economic. We were doing things like going to the moon. Nothing seemed impossible. Many people were moving on up. School was expanding. New things were being tried. No, everything was not perfect (Vietnam). But now it seems everywhere I turn things are going downhill. Been to the moon lately? Been to a National Park lately? A shadow of what they used to be. Being staffed by very knowledgable boomer volunteers. That's nice, but what's next when they are too old to work. Their knowledge dies with them. Training at work? Nearly gone. Every product you put your hands on is cheap junk. Many people around are consumed with, and consuming, the superficial. Sure, it was always there, but it seems more inescapable now.

My point is that growing up we took the growth and expansion to be normal, just the way things were. Turns out it was just a phase. It's hard and depressing to deal with the current decay, which doesn't seem to have an end in sight. It seems hopeless. Hopelessness being a key factor in suicide. Not saying this all is the whole problem, but it sure doesn't help.