Suicide Rates Up Across The Nation

Molly Prince

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report Thursday showing the suicide rate has increased in all but one state across the country.

Researchers analyzing state-level trends in suicide rates from 1999-2016 found that “more than half of people who died by suicide did not have a known diagnosed mental health condition,” however, it is possible that conditions “could have been present and not diagnosed, known, or reported.” Aside from mental health, a variety of factors contribute to suicide, ranging from substance use to major life changes.

Out of all the states and the District of Columbia, only Nevada experienced a decreased suicide rate, dropping 1 percent.

Rates increased more than 30 percent since 1999 in half of states and almost 45,000 Americans aged 10 or older lost their lives to suicide in 2016 alone.

“Suicide is a leading cause of death for Americans – and it’s a tragedy for families and communities across the country,” said CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat, M.D., according to The Hill. The government report further states that it is “one of just three leading causes that are on the rise,” with the other two being Alzheimer’s disease and drug overdoses.

Firearms were the most commonly used method. Deborah Stone, the lead author of the study and a behavioral scientist at the CDC, noted “we typically see that firearms make up about half of all suicides, and that tends to be pretty consistent,” reports CNN.

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