The Center for Disease Control released today the report “Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999-2014” in which they compared suicide data from 1999 with the most recent suicide data from 2014.
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Although suicides have increased among whites, suicides among American Indians have risen even more, said lead author Sally Curtin, a statistician from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Suicides increased 1% each year between 1999 and 2006, according to the study by the National Center for Health Statistics.
The suicide rate in the U.S. continues to climb, and is rising especially sharply among middle-aged white Americans.
More men than women still complete suicides because they tend to use more lethal methods, such as guns and jumping from buildings or bridges. However, by the year 2014, it was noted that the suicide rate in males increased three times more than that of females. “The rate is quite low for the youngest, but it was the biggest increase”, said Curtin.
Meanwhile men aged 45 to 64 experienced the largest percent increase in suicide deaths – 43 percent since 1999. The economy was in recession from the end of 2007 until mid-2009.
Suicide is the leading cause of injury related deaths for Arkansans between the ages of 20 and 64 and the second leading cause of death among all other age groups, according to a report released earlier this month by the Arkansas Department of Health.
“The gender gap is narrowing for pretty much every group except Asians”, Curtain said. But the rates have risen even more since then – up by 7 percent for the entire population since 2010, the end of the last study period – and federal researchers said they issued the new report to draw attention to the issue.
For both men and women the greatest number of suicides occur at middle age, with it skewing slightly older for men. The highest increase among AIAN men – 60 percent – was for people ages 25 to 44.
Among women ages 10 to 14, the suicide rate increased threefold between 1999 and 2014, from 0.5 to 1.5 per 100,000. It more than tripled for white girls, while it increased 57 percent for white boys. However, experts argue that suicides are largely preventable, provided there is awareness of the most commonly used suicide methods. It was also substantial among middle-aged Americans, sending a signal of deep anguish from a group whose suicide rates had been stable or falling since the 1950s.
Researchers at the CDC hope the outcomes of the analysis further inform people on the severity of suicide and negative stereotypes. In order to truly combat rising suicide rates, the stigma surrounding mental health issues – both self-inflicted and projected by others – needs to be addressed.
She and her colleagues are testing strategies that combine improving mental health care and increasing screening for mental health problems with programs that promote social connectedness.
“It’s important to know that help is available”, he said.
Yet another factor could have been the economic downturn in the late 2000s, said Kristin Holland, a behavioral scientist in the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention who was not involved in the current research. “It’s better when you reach out and get the support that you need”.
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In other words, it is essential to treat mental health with the severity and concern it deserves and encourage at-risk individuals to seek help. Their lives may depend on it. If you are outside of the US, please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.
