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Wife says husband was suicidal before he was shot in W. Valley police station

Last updated Thursday, May 23, 2013 - 9:33am

WEST VALLEY CITY -- The wife of a Utah man who was shot by police says he was suicidal when he entered the West Valley City police station and pointed a gun at an officer and a clerk.

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4 Taylorsville schools locked down after report of suicidal man

Contributed The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, May 6, 2013 - 11:37am

SALT LAKE CITY -- All students are unharmed at four Taylorsville-area schools after a brief lockdown.

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Utah middle age suicides among highest in nation

Brady McCombs The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, May 2, 2013 - 3:58pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has the eighth-highest rate of middle-aged suicides in the country, according to a new government report.

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FILE - During a moment of silence, Joan Olsen, left, and her daughter Emily Olsen embrace at the start of the Walk for Suicide Awareness in Kaukauna, Wis. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Joan and Emily are honoring Chris Olsen, who is Joan's husband and Emily's father. The suicide rate among middle-aged Americans climbed a startling 28 percent in the decade between 1999 and 2010, the government reported Thursday, May 2, 2013, but the rates in younger and older people did not change. (AP Photo/Post-Crescent Media, Dan Powers)

Suicides up sharply among middle-aged

Mike Stobbe The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, May 2, 2013 - 12:06pm

NEW YORK — Health officials say suicides among middle-aged Americans climbed at a startling rate over the past decade, a period that included the recession. Overall, the suicide rate for the age group jumped 28 percent from 1999 to 2010. And among whites, it shot up 40 percent.

One theory is that the recession caused more emotional trauma for this group, those ages 35 to 64. Experts also note that white baby boomers have always had a higher suicide rate.

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Bountiful woman whose father committed suicide: See depression? Keep guns out of the home

Scott Schwebke Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, April 20, 2013 - 11:11pm

BOUNTIFUL — Catherine Birch knew her 76-year-old father was depressed but never thought he would use a gun to take his life.

Birch, president of the Davis County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, volunteers her time helping individuals and family members struggling with the debilitating effects of depression.

But in September 2009, Birch found herself in need of emotional support when her dad was found in a canyon near Nephi, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Study: Gun ownership, conservatism contribute to Utah’s high suicide rate

Scott Schwebke Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, April 20, 2013 - 11:12pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s dubious distinction as one of the leading states for suicide could be linked to its high rate of gun ownership and political conservatism, according to a newly released study.

The study was authored by Augustine J. Kposowa, a sociology professor at the University of California-Riverside.

Kposowa calculated for each state the overall suicide rate, percentage of households with firearms and percentage of votes cast for President George W. Bush in the 2000 election.

Conservatives, Firearms, Guns, Homicides, Religion, Suicide, Suicide prevention, Suicides, Featured, LDS Church Read more Comments

Larry Pott, father of Audrie Pott, who committed suicide after a sexual assault, talks about his daughter during a news conference Monday, April 15, 2013, in San Jose, Calif. At right is family representative Robert Allard. The family of a girl who committed suicide after she was sexually assaulted and a photo of the act was shared in text messages said Monday the three 16-year-old boys responsible were sober when the assault happened. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Family of teen who killed self says boys were sober when they assaulted her

Martha Mendoza The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, April 15, 2013 - 1:53pm

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The family of a girl who committed suicide after she was sexually assaulted and a photo of the act was shared in text messages said Monday the three 16-year-old boys responsible were sober when the assault happened.

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Girl who killed self after assault was friends with suspects

Martha Mendoza The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, April 13, 2013 - 9:24am

SARATOGA, Calif. -- The parents of a 15-year-old California girl who took her own life after she was sexually abused and an explicit photo of the assault circulated among her classmates want the three boys who have been arrested in the case prosecuted as adults, a lawyer for the family says.

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This undated photo provided by her family via attorney Robert Allard shows Audrey Pott. A Northern California sheriff's office has arrested three 16-year-old boys on accusations that they sexually battered the 15-year-old girl who hanged herself eight days after the attack last fall. Santa Clara County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Jose Cardoza says the teens were arrested Thursday, April 11, 2013, two at Saratoga High School and a third at Christopher High School in Gilroy. (AP Photo/Family photo provided by attorney Robert Allard)

Girl hangs self after photos posted online of sex assault; 3 arrested

Martha Mendoza The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, April 12, 2013 - 9:42am

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Eight days after allegedly being sexually battered while passed out at a party, and then humiliated by online photos of the assault, 15-year-old Audrie Pott posted on Facebook that her life was ruined, “worst day ever,” and hanged herself.

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Bodies found in Canyonlands possible double suicide

Contributed The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, April 8, 2013 - 5:10pm

HANKSVILLE -- Authorities are investigating after a father and son were found dead over the weekend in a possible double suicide in Canyonlands National Park.

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Church: Pastor Rick Warren’s son commits suicide

The Associated Press The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, April 6, 2013 - 5:25pm

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — The Southern California church headed by popular evangelical Pastor Rick Warren announced Saturday that Warren’s 27-year-old son has committed suicide.

Warren’s Saddleback Valley Community Church said in a statement that Matthew Warren had struggled with mental illness and deep depression throughout his life.

“Matthew was an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life.”

Warren, the author of the multimillion-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life,” said in an email to church staff that he and his wife had enjoyed a fun Friday evening with their son before Matthew Warren returned home to take his life in “a momentary wave of despair.”

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FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2008 file photo, a general view of the headquarters of France's biggest TV station TF1 in Paris. A well-known TV doctor overseeing the French "Survivor" reality show committed suicide following the sudden death of a young contestant he had treated, France's biggest TV station says. Dr. Thierry Costa killed himself on location Monday, April 1, 2013 on an island in Cambodia, the TF1 station said. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File)

French reality show doctor kills himself after contestant dies

Thomas Adamson The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - 12:00pm

PARIS -- A well-known TV doctor overseeing the French "Survivor" reality show has committed suicide following the sudden death of a young contestant he had treated, France's biggest TV station says.

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Tooele inmate found dead in jail cell

Contributed The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, March 27, 2013 - 11:15am

TOOELE -- Tooele County jail officials are investigating the death of an inmate who was found dead in his cell Monday evening.

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Shanda Smith of Washington, who lost two children to a mistaken-identity shooting, does not believe owning guns is a good way to counteract gun violence. (Washington Post photo by Sarah L. Voisin)

Gun deaths: Whites shoot selves; blacks shot by others

Dan Keating The Washington Post

Last updated Monday, March 25, 2013 - 9:43am

Gun deaths are shaped by race in America. Whites are far more likely to shoot themselves, and African Americans are far more likely to be shot by someone else.

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Syracuse holds awareness, prevention meeting to combat growing issue

Scott Schwebke Standard-Examiner

Last updated Monday, March 25, 2013 - 8:39am

SYRACUSE — Still reeling from his younger brother’s self-inflicted death last week, Chris Bitton went to a suicide awareness and prevention meeting at Syracuse High School on Saturday searching for answers.

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