The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that the number of suicides in the United States in 2023 remained at a high level, with a little over 49,300 reported cases. This figure may increase slightly as investigations into some deaths are concluded and reported.
In 2022, just under 49,500 suicide deaths were reported, and the similarity in numbers between the two years has led CDC officials to indicate that the suicide rate for 2022 and 2023 is the same.
Suicide rates in the U.S. have been on the rise for nearly two decades, with the exception of a brief decline at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stabilization of the increase in suicide rates is seen as cautiously optimistic news, according to Katherine Keyes, a public health professor at Columbia University who specializes in suicide research.
Efforts such as the establishment of a national crisis line allowing individuals to dial 988 to access mental health professionals may be starting to yield positive results in the fight against suicide. However, Keyes notes that it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions.
Suicide is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including high rates of depression, limited access to mental health services, and the presence of firearms. Approximately 55% of all suicide deaths in 2022 involved the use of firearms, according to CDC data.
The CDC’s report highlights the following key points:
– Suicide was ranked as the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10–14 and 20–34, and the third leading cause for those aged 15–19.
– Suicides are more prevalent among boys and men than girls and women, with men aged 75 and older having the highest suicide rate at about 44 suicides per 100,000 men in that age group.
– Among women, middle-aged individuals had the highest rate at about 9 per 100,000. However, there have been significant increases in suicides among teenagers and young women, with the rate in this group doubling over the past two decades.
– The overall suicide rate in 2022 and 2023 stood at 14.2 per 100,000, the same as in 2018. Prior to that, the rate had not been as high since 1941.
The issue of suicide remains a serious concern in the United States, necessitating continued efforts to address the various factors contributing to this troubling trend. If you or someone you know is in need of help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.
