Leo Sher, M.D.

Three days ago, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released provisional data on suicide rates in the U.S. in 2022 (1).  More people died by suicide in the U.S. in 2022 than any other year on record. Overall, 49,449 Americans (39,255 men and 10,194 women) died by suicide in 2022, up from 48,183 (38,358 men and 9,825 women) suicide deaths in 2021. Suicides rose 2.6% in 2022 in comparison to 2021. In 2021, suicides in the U.S. rose 5% in comparison to 2020.

2022 suicide rate — 14.9 deaths for every 100,000 people — is 5% higher than 2018 previous record high of 14.2 deaths for every 100,000 people. Suicide rates increased 37% between 2000-2018 and decreased 5% between 2018-2020.

In the U.S., the suicide rate among males in 2021 was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides.

Suicide and homicide are the second and third leading causes of death, respectively, for Americans ages 10–24. However, suicides among people aged 10 to 24 decreased by 8.4% in 2022 in comparison to 2021. People ages 85 and older have the highest rates of suicide.

The CDC report underlines the importance of suicide research and prevention.

Reference

1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Prevention. URL: https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html Accessed: August 13, 2023.