Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in this country, killing more than 42,000 Americans every year.
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The agency is drawing attention to that increase as it devotes resources to Thrive NYC, a city initiative raising awareness about mental health issues and increasing access to care services. The increase mirrors the nationwide trend of the suicide rate rising.
New York City Health officials say suicide rates have risen in New York, but are still below the national average.
The boroughs of Manhattan and Queens both saw increases: The rate of suicide in Manhattan rose from 5.7 per 100,000 people in the year 2000 to 7.6 per 100,000 people in 2014, and in Queens from 4.3 to 5.7 per 100,000 people during that same period.
The suicide rate was highest among women between the ages of 45 and 64, the study found.
By contrast, there were 271 motor vehicle deaths and 353 deaths by homicide per 100,000 New Yorkers in 2015, according to the Summary of Vital Statistics for the City of NY.
The percentage of suicides due to hanging, strangulation and suffocating climbed from 29 percent in 2000 to 41 percent in 2014.
Before the walk started, people picked out different colored bead necklaces, each representing different ways suicide has affected them whether it was a loss of a child or their own personal struggles.
The AFSP says it wants to reduce the annual suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025.
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“The data released today on suicide in New York City makes clear that a person’s untreated mental illness can result in premature and tragic death”, said First Lady Chirlane McCray.
