US suicide rates in 2023 remained constant at a concerning level

NEW YORK – U.S. suicides maintained a concerning level last year, with preliminary data indicating that around 49,300 suicide deaths were reported in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This number may still increase slightly as some death cases are finalized and reported. The figures for 2023 are similar to the 49,500 reported in 2022, resulting in the same suicide rate for both years, as stated by CDC officials.

U.S. suicide rates have been on the rise for almost two decades, with a slight decrease during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Katherine Keyes, a public health professor at Columbia University who specializes in suicide research, described the leveling off of the increase as cautiously promising news.

The introduction of a national crisis line that allows individuals to reach mental health specialists by dialing 988 is a step in the right direction. While there is cause for optimism, the long-term impact of such efforts remains to be seen.

Experts warn that suicide is a complex issue driven by various factors such as depression, limited access to mental health services, and the presence of firearms, accounting for about 55% of all suicide deaths in 2022, according to CDC data.

The latest CDC report highlights:

– Suicide was the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10–14 and 20–34 and the third leading cause for those aged 15–19.

– Deaths were more prevalent among boys and men, with the highest suicide rate observed in men aged 75 and older, while middle-aged women also exhibited an elevated rate of suicide.

– The overall suicide rate in 2022 and 2023 remained at 14.2 per 100,000, a rate not seen since 1941 before 2018.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group, with the AP being responsible for all content.