Suicide Mortality in the United States, 2002-2022

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Mortality Statistics

Background:

• Suicide remains a significant public health concern, necessitating ongoing monitoring of trends and demographics.
• Understanding temporal changes in suicide rates is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report final 2022 suicide numbers and age-adjusted rates.
• To analyze trends in suicide rates by age group and sex from 2002 to 2022.
• To identify leading methods of suicide, particularly firearm-related deaths.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of National Vital Statistics System multiple cause-of-death mortality files (2002-2022).
• Identification of suicide deaths using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes (U03, X60-X84, Y87.0).
• Calculation of age-adjusted death rates using the 2000 U.S. standard population and assessment of trends with Joinpoint Regression Program.

Main Results:

• The age-adjusted suicide rate increased by 5% to 14.2 deaths per 100,000 standard population in 2022, following a decline from 2018 to 2020.
• Suicide rates increased between 2020 and 2022 for females aged 25 and older, while rates decreased for males aged 10-24.
• Firearm-related suicide was the leading method for both males and females in 2022, with increasing rates observed since 2006/2007.

Conclusions:

• The recent increase in suicide rates, particularly among older females, highlights the need for targeted interventions.
• The consistent rise in firearm-related suicides underscores the importance of addressing access to lethal means.
• Continued surveillance of suicide trends across different demographic groups is essential for public health policy and prevention efforts.