According to national data, the number of suicides committed by Americans reached an all-time high in the past year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released figures on Thursday revealing that 49,500 adults in the US took their own lives in 2022. This increase in suicides is attributed to factors such as access to guns and rising rates of depression.
The data suggests that the US is currently experiencing the highest suicide rates since World War II. This is an increase from 48,200 suicides in 2021, which translates to one death every 11 minutes. Suicide now ranks as the eleventh-leading cause of death in the US, moving up from twelfth place in 2020. It is also the second-leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 34.
Figures published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that 49,500 adults in the US committed suicide in 2022, driven by access to guns and increased rates of depression
Suicides in adults ages 25 to 44 grew about percent. The new data indicates that suicide became the second leading cause of death in that age group in 2022, up from number four n 2021
The US has faced scrutiny for its escalating number of firearm-related deaths, which experts believe contribute to the high suicide rates. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2022 reported a record 45,222 firearm deaths in the US in 2020, with a one percent increase in gun-related suicides.
Furthermore, data from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease Report revealed that the US had nearly four times the number of gun-related suicides compared to the second-highest country, India, in 2019.
Jill Harkavy-Friedman, senior vice president of research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, emphasized the connection between firearms and suicide: “I don’t know if you can talk about suicide without talking about firearms.”
The suicide rate experienced a slight decline in 2019 and further dropped in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some experts attribute this decline to the phenomenon observed during the early stages of wars and natural disasters, where communities unite and support one another.
However, suicide rates increased by four percent in 2021. According to the latest data, the number rose by over 1,000, reaching 49,449 in the past year—an approximately three percent increase compared to the previous year. It is important to note that the provisional data is obtained from US death certificates and is considered mostly complete, although minor adjustments may occur when reviewing the death information in the coming months.
The largest increases in suicide rates were observed among older adults. Deaths rose by nearly seven percent in individuals aged 45 to 64 and over eight percent in those aged 65 and above. The CDC highlights that white men have particularly high suicide rates.
Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer, emphasized the need to reduce stigma and eliminate barriers preventing middle-aged and elderly individuals from seeking assistance. These age groups often face issues such as job loss or the loss of a spouse.
Suicides in adults aged 25 to 44 increased substantially. The latest data indicates that suicide became the second leading cause of death within this age group in 2022, moving up from fourth place in 2021.
Despite these alarming statistics, there are signs of hope. A national crisis line was established a year ago, allowing anyone in the US to contact mental health specialists by dialing 988. The CDC is also expanding a suicide prevention program to provide additional support in various communities. Furthermore, there is a growing awareness of the issue and a recognition that it is acceptable to seek help, according to health officials.
In 2022, suicides among individuals aged 10 to 24 witnessed an over eight percent decrease. This could be attributed to increased attention towards mental health issues affecting young people and efforts by schools and other institutions to address this problem, as stated by CDC officials.
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