黑料正能量 Note: Newly released figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm that rates of death by suicide and drug overdose are among the highest ever in our history, especially among Native Americans and white people, in contrast with those in Britain, Russia, India, China and Western Europe. See the CDC report below.
Suicides Are at the Highest Rate in Decades, CDC Report Shows
Suicide is rare, but it鈥檚 increasing in America.
By Vox November 29, 2018
The suicide rate is the highest it鈥檚 been in decades, the latest warning sign of a worsening public health issue in America that needs far more attention.
According to a by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47,000 Americans died by suicide in 2017. Put another way, the suicide rate was 14 people in every 100,000 鈥 up 33 percent from 10.5 people per 100,000 in 1999.
The suicide rate is at a 50-year peak, according to the . The new data shows that there were 2,000 more deaths from suicide last year than in 2016, the year when suicide became the second-leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 10 and 34 and the fourth-leading cause for middle-aged Americans.
The increase is in part responsible for another drop in life expectancy this year. Americans are now living an average of just over 78 years and six months on average, according to the report. The average life expectancy has
Suicide is on the rise, but that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 a common occurrence. Because we are very sensitive to information about what鈥檚 , it鈥檚 important to note: While suicide is the , it鈥檚 still rare, and it .
There鈥檚 much not yet understood about the rise in suicides, but one finding of the CDC鈥檚 previous research was that it鈥檚 not necessarily linked to mental health: More than half of the people who died by suicide in 2016 had no known mental health problems.
Instead, as this summer following the death of beloved chef and author Anthony Bourdain, researchers have found that the majority of suicides are related to problems with relationships, substance use, health, jobs or finances.
That goes hand-in-hand with the other reason life expectancy is dropping: a rise in drug overdoses. There were more than 70,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017 鈥 the highest number of drug overdose deaths for any single year in US history. Together, suicide and substance abuse overdoses have caused an uptick in mortality 鈥 鈥 that can鈥檛 be ignored, as Belluz notes:
Researchers have explained the decline, in part, by an increase in 鈥渄eaths of despair鈥: suicides, alcoholism, and , are a rising problem for midlife white people.
Experts say suicide is largely preventable. has shown, for instance, that states with higher rates of gun ownership also have higher rates of suicide, suggesting that tighter gun laws could lower the rate of suicide. The CDC also suggested that an emphasis on housing and financial policies and 鈥減romoting social connectedness鈥 could prevent suicide.
鈥淲e need to ensure that suicide prevention is … tackled on the same scale and with the same vigor that we address other public health issues in this country,鈥 Bob Turner of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention told . If not, 鈥渢he number of people dying by suicide or struggling with suicidal thoughts will continue to rise.鈥
Suicide is a frustrating, stubborn tragedy, and one that鈥檚 growing more common. But it鈥檚 a trend that can be changed. It鈥檚 increasingly important to and be aware of , like a family history of suicide, a history of mental health issues and recent losses or personal difficulties. Here鈥檚 .
If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people who want to help:
In the US:
Text START to 741741 from anywhere in the USA, at any time, about any type of crisis
1-800-273-8255
1-866-488-7386
Outside the US:
The lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. .
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