CDC Reports 49,500 US Suicides in 2023

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its latest report, revealing that approximately 49,500 people took their own lives in 2023, with preliminary figures indicating this number may still increase . This rate is alarmingly close to the suicide rates of the past two years.

Suicide rates in the US have been rising over the past 20 years, except for a brief decline during the COVID-19 pandemic . Experts warn that suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the country, exacerbated by factors such as high depression rates, limited mental health services, and easy access to firearms. In fact, about 55% of all suicides in 2022 involved firearms .

Key Statistics:

• Suicide among Youth: Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-14 and 20-34, and the third leading cause for those aged 15-19 .
• Gender Disparity: Suicide rates are higher among men, with the highest rate among men aged 75 and older (44 out of every 100,000) .
• Rise among Teenage Girls: Suicide rates have doubled among teenage girls and young women over the last two decades .

Professor Kathryn Keyes from Columbia University highlights the availability of the 988 mental health services hotline as a promising solution to reduce suicides, though its effectiveness remains to be seen