Alberta suicide rate soars by 30%

[chemgear]

Apparently lots of cars being broken into on the west side (Aspen, etc.) or stolen and being used in other crimes. Friend had this happen and a couple of his neighbors as well.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by polak

How long until the crime rate goes up to match? Seems like crime would also go up in tough times. Maybe people aren't quite that desperate yet but I'd sure try robbing a bank before killing myself?

Already have.

[HarryH93]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Apparently lots of cars being broken into on the west side (Aspen, etc.) or stolen and being used in other crimes. Friend had this happen and a couple of his neighbors as well.

Are car thefts really linked to loss of employment? I could be wrong, but I feel like people working white-collar jobs would not be likely to steal cars to commit other crimes. I understand that it's not just the downtown O&G people losing jobs right now, but how much correlation do these two things have?

[zamler]

Originally Posted by HarryH93

Are car thefts really linked to loss of employment?

Crime in general is linked to unemployment.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by zamler

Crime in general is linked to unemployment.

F%$#ing engineers. Stealing cars in Aspen.

[Russic]

Here's an interesting article on the popular myth that the holidays produce an increase in suicide.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...lidays/419436/

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Russic

Here's an interesting article on the popular myth that the holidays produce an increase in suicide.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...lidays/419436/

All I've got is anecdotal evidence. Trumped by a study, I guess.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by polak

How long until the crime rate goes up to match? Seems like crime would also go up in tough times. Maybe people aren't quite that desperate yet but I'd sure try robbing a bank before killing myself?

Grande Prairie is the crime capital of Canada right now I believe (per capita) and I think its directly related to the down turn. When I lived there 15 years ago, the population was around 30k then the boom started happening. I'm not sure what it's at now but it's got to be close to 80k. Insane growth for a decade and a half and a #### ton of money going through. Now it's like Canadian Detroit from what my buddies tell me. Organized crime, drive by shootings, B and E's, muggings, home invasions, etc all just a common occurrence right now. My one friend's apartment has been broken into twice in the last year AND his car was stolen once (later recovered). It was not like this AT ALL when I lived there.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Russic

Here's an interesting article on the popular myth that the holidays produce an increase in suicide.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...lidays/419436/

I'm starting to think I should be subscribing to the Atlantic. They write some persuasive shizzle.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Was talking to someone at Enmax today, and apparently vaults and commercial businesses are experiencing a rash of break-ins lately due to copper theft.

Apparently it's pretty sophisticated too.

This has happened commonly during every downturn. What's scary is that rarely do people have to knowledge about what they are doing and what the consequences are. Also it makes the repairs incredibly dangerous to do. There's of course always ways to do it but the people who steal copper are putting more people's lives on the line than just theirs. Also most exposed copper wiring is being phased out with copper cladded steel which is incredibly difficult to cut and also contains no scrap value.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by Russic

Here's an interesting article on the popular myth that the holidays produce an increase in suicide.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/ar...lidays/419436/

Fair enough, but I know from personal experience with both myself and others that the holidays are an incredibly tough time. The fact that people might not go through with such a final solution is a good thing...but the tough time persists.

I'd also wager that suicides are often not really on a "whim" but because of a long grueling journey that breaks a person down. There might be a final straw or trigger, but I doubt most are decisions made in a relatively short period of time.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Cain

Fair enough, but I know from personal experience with both myself and others that the holidays are an incredibly tough time. The fact that people might not go through with such a final solution is a good thing...but the tough time persists.

I'd also wager that suicides are often not really on a "whim" but because of a long grueling journey that breaks a person down. There might be a final straw or trigger, but I doubt most are decisions made in a relatively short period of time.

I can definitely see how the holidays can be a tough, lonely time. It is interesting that doesn't seem to translate to a statistical uptick. I suppose it's different strokes for different folks. For the depressed people in my family for instance, the holidays are among the few times in the year where they're definitely going to be within a healthy support structure.

[peter12]

During the boom, GP was like a Calgary SE suburb that was slowly gentrifying - a Booster Juice right next to a strip club.

Actually, overall quite pleasant, but I could easily see how ugly it would get once the shine started to tarnish.

[peter12]

EDIT: Double post

[puckedoff]

^ That's where the idea for the popular Booster Juice flavour, "Brazilian Thunder" was born

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Russic

I can definitely see how the holidays can be a tough, lonely time. It is interesting that doesn't seem to translate to a statistical uptick. I suppose it's different strokes for different folks. For the depressed people in my family for instance, the holidays are among the few times in the year where they're definitely going to be within a healthy support structure.

I think it may not translate to an uptick because of the people working to prevent it. Suicide hotlines and 911 get MUCH busier for the last 3 weeks of December and the last 2 of January when it comes to suicide calls, and they tend to be very good at their jobs. But you don't near about it...because that would harsh everyone else's holiday buzz.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

I think it may not translate to an uptick because of the people working to prevent it. Suicide hotlines and 911 get MUCH busier for the last 3 weeks of December and the last 2 of January when it comes to suicide calls, and they tend to be very good at their jobs. But you don't near about it...because that would harsh everyone else's holiday buzz.

Not even close, it is because there is an increased social connection related to the holiday season, which come January is lacking, except with the increased pressures of finances as people have an expectation to get gifts, which often times they can't afford to purchase for people.

[chemgear]

Crime is up big and it's a good time to work in the repo industry.

http://business.financialpost.com/ne..._lsa=b083-5c91

Police are pointing to economic decline and rising drug use to explain Calgary’s crime surge. In the first 10 months of 2015, commercial break-ins almost doubled from a year earlier, bank robberies were up 65 per cent and home invasions increased 52 per cent, Calgary Police Service data show.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...107/story.html

[pylon]

The amount of credit card and LOC debt I am seeing right now on credit applications is terrifying. I have seen numerous applications where people are in 6 figure CC debt. And approvals are becoming extremely difficult on a lot of deals. It's pretty bleak when you see the financial situations some people are in.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by pylon

The amount of credit card and LOC debt I am seeing right now on credit applications is terrifying. I have seen numerous applications where people are in 6 figure CC debt. And approvals are becoming extremely difficult on a lot of deals. It's pretty bleak when you see the financial situations some people are in.

6 figure credit card debt!?!?!?!

I don't even...

I thought I was bad 3-4 years ago when I was hovering around 7k

I can't comprehend 6 figure cc debt. Literally blows my mind.