Statistics show shocking nationwide uptick in people taking their own lives
Last week’s sudden deaths of fashion designer Kate Spade and TV host Anthony Bourdain underscored a huge, developing problem in our society’s health tendencies—a shocking increase in suicide in the United States across all age groups and both genders.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that between 1999–2016, about half of all states saw an uptick of at least 30 percent in suicides. All states except Nevada saw an increase of at least 6 percent.
“And, unfortunately,” lamented Anne Schuchat, MD, principal deputy director of the CDC, “our data show that the problem is getting worse.”
Suicide rates from 1999 to 2016 increased in all age groups younger than 75 years, with the greatest increase shown in “middle-aged adults” aged 45 to 64 years. In addition, among individuals with no known mental health conditions who died by suicide, 84 percent were men and 16 percent were women.
The statistics and other findings were published in the June 8 edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
“Suicide is a leading cause of death for Americans―and it’s a tragedy for families and communities across the country. Health and behavioral healthcare providers have an important role to play in suicide prevention so that nobody falls through the cracks,” said Schuchat.
“Suicide is something we’ve learned is preventable, and there are several evidence-based strategies that can help. That’s our key message here.”
SOURCES: CDC, Medscape
