Suicide Rates

Suicide Rates

Suicide rates are up more than 30 percent in half of U.S. states, the CDC says in the Washington Times

Suicide rates in nearly every U.S. state rose from 1999 to 2016, with increases of more than 30 percent in half of the states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report released Thursday. Health professionals didn't offer a reason for the increase but said suicides rarely result from a single factor. They said coroners' reports from across the country indicate that suicides often follow relationship or financial problems, substance abuse and health crises.

"Suicide is a leading cause of death for Americans, and it's a tragedy for families and communities across the country," Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's principal deputy director, said in a statement. "From individuals and communities to employers and health care professionals, everyone can play a role in efforts to help save lives and reverse this troubling rise in suicide." Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death and one of three leading causes that are on the rise, the CDC said. The others are Alzheimer's disease and drug overdoses.

John Madigan, vice president of public policy for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said the rising suicide rate is a complex phenomenon and that it is hard to pinpoint a reason despite all of the resources available. "Warning signs are pretty simple," Mr. Madigan said, such as a sudden rise in anxiety, mood swings, and alcohol and drug use. When someone is at risk of committing suicide, he said, treat the situation as a "CPR intervention" and get help right away.