Evening star., 1927-04-03
YOUTHFUL SUICIDES
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

The surprising thing about the re-
cent so-called epidemic OF youthful
suicides in the United States, 1t now
appears, is that 1t Is not an epidemic,
and that the number of such suicides
10 far less than 1t was few years
ago. That, despite the fact that nu.
Ynerous articles have been published
and many sermons have been preach
ed deploring the suicidal tendency
among the youths Of the land ana
seeking to arrive at an explanation
Of the why's and wherefores.
Obviously no explanation is needed
II the number of suicides is not ex-
traordinary, and that, 1t seems, Is the
case. In other words, no one has oc-
casion to conclude that there is some
thing radically wrong with our civl-
lixation, with the way young people
of today are being reared and edu.
Gated. or with the modern home en-
vironment and influence.
During the first two months or TINS
year 10 colleges and high school stu
dents took their lives. Probably no
one case was of sufficient importance
in and of itself to receive more than
brief mention in the local papers, but
the evaiuation of news led to q dis
play of each of these suicide stories,
and, cumulatively, each additional one
became more sensational.
Then the psychologists, the psy'
chiatrists, the preachers. the teach
ers. the social workers and many
other specialists got busy In an
effort to explain why 30 many young
people were tired of life before they
had fairly started it. Many diverse
and astonishing opinions have been
expressed in connection with the re-
cent suicides, 1t is pointed out in the
official publication of the Parents
Publishing Association. The causes
ascribed for them range all the way
from too much interest in immortal.
ity" to too young college teachers
while suggested preventives vary
from "1o minutes gymnastics when
contemplating the fatal deed" to
more Of the good old-fashioned strong
gospel"
What the Statistics Show.
But the statisticians have also got
busy and they are able to prove that
conditions are not 90 alarming as they
have been heralded. They call at.
tention to the fact that in the year
1919, ATT youths under 90 years Of
age committed suicide in this country.
In 1920 the number Jumped to 709,
In 1921 It was 558 and In 1922 1t was
800.
These figures are far and away
beyond those for the past 12-month
period, and yet there was little talk
of a wave Of youthful suicide" in
those years. Apparently there were
other happenings of more engrossing
v.,I~Isn tva4nrAaf a. that TINA Tn 1Q23
the number Of suicides Of youths
under 20 dropped to 449, and by 1926,
the last year for which records are
available, the low level OF 339 had
been reached. At the rate Of 10 for
the first two months of this year 1t
Ia evident that the total for 1927 will
follow the downward trend, although
there Ia no assurance the rate will be
maintained.
There is O. we'll known seasonal
curve in the frequency OF suicide.
says ZiIpha Carruthers, who made a
survey OF the subject for Children
the Magazine for Parents, that has
been mentioned. This mysterious
and tragic cycle rises sharply. begin
ming late In January, making three.
fifths Of its total yearly increase In
the single short month Of February,
and reaching It's peak by May. 1t
drops rapidly to q minimum in August,
and remains low the rest OF the year.
It looks as if 1927 were running true
to FORM"
The statistical bureau Of the Metro
politan Life Insurance Co. is authority
for the statement that less than per
cent In 1923 and less than per cent
In 1895 OF all American suicides were
under 90 years of age. During the
first 20 years there are fewer suicides
than In any single five years there.
after. Less than four-thousandths OF
1 per cent of our minor population
one out Of every 400,000--ends In
suicide.
OF the Juvenile suicides in 1921. 40
were said to be college students. and
in 1e23 there were So. However, in
the last year mentioned, 79 million
aire suicides were listed. There are
far more college students than there
are rnillionaires in the United States,
and vet when more than twice as
many of the men of wealth took their
own lives no one discovered wave
of millionaire suicides"
Waves Of Other Years.
Az further evidence that the situa-
ton with respect to the self.destruction
OF youths is In no sense or degree new
excerpts from newspapers OF years
ago are cited. One 10 q headline that
was published 40 years ago. 1t reads
Suicides Of Chiidren--Is Modern Life
| Too Rapid?" Another headline, 81
years old, runs. boy Suicides In
crease--Life Too Strenuous for
Young" These exhibits might have
| been taken from the newspapers of
| the present year, for headlines of
almost Identical wording have been
appearing frequently.
In an effort to arrive at the cause
of youthful suicides the last words
| or messages of the 10 who killed
| themselves during January and Feb
ruary were checked up. Not all ol