According to a recent article published by CNN, the suicide rate in the U.S. continues to climb. The suicide rate in 2017 is 33% higher than in 1999, and at the highest level since World War II. The 2017 data the article is based off of, is the most recent available according to the annual research published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
“The data showed that suicide deaths among girls and women rose significantly for all racial and ethnic groups except Asian or Pacific Islander, and the largest increase was among American Indian or Alaska Native girls and women, at 139%. Among boys and men, suicide rates increased significantly for all racial and ethnic groups except for Asian or Pacific Islander, with the largest increase observed among American Indian or Alaska Native boys and men, at 71%.”
Suicide Rates by State in the U.S.
A different “CDC report published last year found that suicide rates increased 25% across the United States between 1999 and 2016, with individual states ranging from a 6% increase in Delaware to a nearly 58% increase in North Dakota.”
Suicide Rates are Especially High for Young People
A separate study, published in the medical journal JAMA found “a significant increase in suicide rates among 15- to 24-year-olds between 2000 and 2017.”
This study found that “among those 15 to 19, the suicide rate was 8 per 100,000 people in 2000 and increased to 11.8 per 100,000 in 2017, and among young adults 20 to 24, the suicide rate was 12.5 per 100,000 people in 2000 and then rose to 17 per 100,000 in 2017.”
Are You Suffering from Suicidal Thoughts or Feelings?
If you are having suicidal thoughts or feelings, reaching out for help can sometimes feel scary or overwhelming. But it is important that you know you are not alone – many people suffer from these types of feelings. And please know there is a path to feeling better; suicide is not the answer. You just need to take the first step – reaching out for help – to get started. There are many mental health providers, such as Dr. Alyx MacTernan of Elemental Mental Health that treat clients suffering from suicidal thoughts and feelings. If you would like to learn more about how Dr. MacTernan can help you to address these feelings, please submit a contact request via the website.
If you are in crisis and need immediate help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
***If you feel you are a danger to yourself or others or are experiencing a medical emergency – Call 911 immediately. Do not rely on communication through this website for urgent medical needs.***
Read the full article, published by CNN here: The US suicide rate is up 33% since 1999.