Philadelphia (CBS) — According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for almost 34,600 deaths in 2007.
Suicide is more prevalent among men, with about four times as many males as females killing themselves.
We know that depression increases the risk of suicide, but there are other factors — many tied to genetics.
New research out of Sweden suggests that a mother’s suicide may influence the risk for later suicide attempts in her children, even more so than the suicide of a father.
This does not mean that this will always be the case, but it does help with prediction about potential problems.
Clearly counseling can make a big difference as can careful observation of warning signs.
Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor