US suicide rates rise after 2 years of decline

Following 2 consecutive years of decline, total suicides in the U.S. rose from nearly 46,000 in 2020 to just over 48,000 in 2021, researchers wrote in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The report noted that suicide rates in this timespan increased the most among American Indian or Alaskan Native individuals, while the greatest decrease in suicide rates was among white individuals.

“Research indicates that suicide is preventable through a comprehensive public health approach that relies on data to drive decision-making, multisectoral partnerships to expand reach, and implementation and evaluation of multiple culturally relevant prevention strategies,” Deborah M. Stone, ScD, of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and colleagues wrote. “CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action supports states and communities to prioritize interventions with the best available evidence that can save lives.”

Stone and colleagues analyzed changes in racial and ethnic suicide rates from 2018 to 2021 National Vital Statistics System multiple cause-of-death mortality files. Researchers calculated 95% CIs with the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population. Included Hispanic individuals could be of any race, and those with unknown ethnicity were excluded from race and ethnicity groups but were included in the overall total.

The researchers reported that suicide rates were highest among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaskan Native individuals at 28.1 per 100,000 overall. This group experienced the highest relative percentage change from 2018 to 2021 at 22.3 to 28.1 per 100,000 (26% increase).

Rates also increased significantly among non-Hispanic Black individuals, from 7.3 to 8.7 per 100,000 (19.2% increase) and among Hispanic individuals, from 7.4 to 7.9 per 100,000 (6.8% increase) from 2018 to 2021. Non-Hispanic white individuals showed the greatest overall decline in suicide rates, from 18.1 to 17.4 (3.9% decline).

Suicide rates of Black individuals aged 10 to 24 years increased significantly, from 8.2 to 11.2 (36.6% increase). Overall, suicide rates increased among those aged 25 to 44 years at 5%, American Indian or Alaskan Native at 33.7%, Black at 22.9%, Hispanic at 19.4% and non-Hispanic multiracial at 20.6% from 2018 to 2021.

The researchers reported that overall, suicide rates of individuals aged 45 to 64 years decreased significantly at –12.4%, among non-Hispanic Asian at –15.9%, Hispanic at –9.3% and white at –11.5%. Suicide rates of individuals aged at least 65 years showed no significant changes.

“Significant increases among young Black persons aged 10 to 24 years and across multiple racial and ethnic populations aged 25 to 44 years raise particular concern,” Stone and colleagues wrote. “Suicide is a complex problem related to multiple risk factors such as relationship, job or school, and financial problems, as well as mental illness, substance use, social isolation, historical trauma, barriers to health care and easy access to lethal means of suicide among persons at risk.”