1. Suicides rates are influenced by other factors, such as weather (Finland, etc), societal norms (Japan), etc.

2. The US would move further up the suicide table if you classify deaths from overdosing as suicides.

3. If the US population had not had such an easy access to "happy pills" (mood enhancers), the suicide rate would have been higher.

>A new job should be across the street for such a person

There are a lot of people coming and leaving S.V. on any single day. This has been discussed many times on HN.

If you are happy in S.V., good for you, but don't project the mini-bubble you live onto the whole country.