Suicide rates differed significantly by race, ethnicity in past decade

Suicide rates in the United States differed by race and ethnicity in recent years, according to results of a cross-sectional study in a research letter published in JAMA Network Open.

“The [CDC] reported a decrease in the 2019 suicide rate, from 14.2 per 100,000 individuals in 2018 to 13.9 per 100,000 individuals in 2019, representing 833 fewer suicides,” Rajeev Ramchand, PhD, of the National Institute of Mental Health in Maryland, and colleagues wrote. “This is the first national year-over-year decrease since 1999, but efforts need to consider trends among subgroups. Growing concerns regarding increasing rates of suicides among Black youth led us to examine subgroup trends over the past 2 decades.”

The researchers obtained data for this study via the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), with rates adjusted for age according to postcensal population estimates. They collected mortality, race and ethnicity data from death certificates and included white, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native and Asian or Pacific Islander as race categories and Hispanic or Latino, not Hispanic or Latino and not stated as ethnicity categories. Further, they used time-trend regression models to determine if the rate for 2019 was expected based on if it was within the interval created by adding the lower and upper confidence limits to the rate for 2018.

Results showed suicide rates decreased between 2018 and 2019 for white and American Indian or Alaska Native individuals according to the overall age-adjusted rates, which reflected the decrease in total deaths. Black and Asian or Pacific Islander individuals had an increased age-adjusted rate, with the increasing trend for these group having started in 2014. Black individuals had a 30% increased suicide rate, from 5.7 to 7.4 per 100,000, and Asian or Pacific Islander individuals a 16% increased suicide rate, from 6.1 to 7.1 per 100,000, between 2014 and 2019. The change between 2018 and 2019, when compared with that for 2014 to 2017, was in the expected range for Black individuals, Asian or Pacific Islander individuals and Hispanic individuals; however, the change was outside of the expected range for white individuals, American Indian or Alaskan Native individuals and the total population.

Among male and female youth aged 15 to 24 years, those who were American Indian or Alaskan Native and white had higher suicide rates compared with Black youth, Asian or Pacific Islander youth and Hispanic youth for all years. Between 2013 and 2019, Black male youth in this age group had a 47% increased suicide rate and Asian or Pacific Islander male youth had a 40% increased suicide rate. Given the 2013 to 2017 trend, the increased rates from 2018 to 2019 for Black and Asian or Pacific Islander male youth were within the expected range. The decrease among white youth in this age group fell outside of the expected range. The researchers noted similar increased among female youth aged 15 to 24 years, with the rate having increased by 59% among Black female youth between 2013 and 2019.

“Research conducted in concert with stakeholders from population subgroups is needed to identify and mitigate causes of suicidal distress and enhance equitable access and effectiveness of prevention efforts,” Ramchand and colleagues wrote.