German billionaire beset by money woes commits suicide

German billionaire Adolph Merckle, who has been beset by money woes, committed suicide.

According to Bloomberg News, Merckle, listed as 94th on Forbes' list of the world's wealthiest people, was hit by a train. His family released a statement saying he was "broken by his inability to handle the situation." Until recently, Merckle had a good reputation but ran into some bad luck.

"Merckle, whose holdings spanned the cement, machinery and drug industries, was battered by bets on Volkswagen AG, a drop in the value of his HeidelbergCement AG stock and increasing debt," Bloomberg News said. Shares of HeidelbergCement slumped on the news of Merckle's suicide.

Though my heart goes out to his family, the fact that the businessman chose to end his life is not surprising. The current economic crisis has placed people under unbelievable amounts of stress. Sometimes things go horribly wrong.

A French investor recently caught up in the Bernard Madoff scandal recently took his own life. Last year, an executive with a subprime mortgage company murdered his wife of 10 years and the mother of his two children before leaping off a bridge spanning New Jersey and Delaware.

Countless other tragedies that happen every day do not make the news. Divorces are bound to rise and I bet domestic violence is increasing. Let's hope that the government funds mental health services with the same gusto it provides money to money-losing financial institutions.