Massive study of deaths by suicide shows one in 10 suicide deaths in the U.S. occurs in people with chronic pain

Experts suspect this is an underestimate because chronic pain frequently is not coded during assessments of cause of death.

https://www.psychcongress.com/news/chronic-pain-may-contribute-suicide

“More than half of the people with chronic pain who killed themselves died from firearm related injuries”

The fact that the majority of people with chronic pain — most of whom have access to opioids — kill themselves with guns rather than overdoses speaks to the serious degree of intention and the amount of desperation and hopelessness that living with chronic pain entails.

Of course, I’m reading and writing this in the wee hours of the morning unable to sleep because of...chronic pain

I was curious and googled.

And, for tonight, knowing I’m not alone will be enough for me.

I hope it gets someone else through the night too.