Provisional data released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that in 2022 there were 49,449 deaths from suicide in the United States. These data are quite disheartening especially given that deaths by suicide had declined in 2019 and 2020, only to rise by 5% in 2021; the provisional 2022 data represent a further 2.6% increase. When demographic data are evaluated, it can be seen that suicide death rates increased in all groups except for American Indian/Alaska Natives and youth aged 10-24 years where deaths by suicide actually decreased. Further data and evaluation are needed in order to determine what and how different factors may potentially contribute to the observed trends. For instance, the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline was implemented in July of 2022. Has availability and use of 988, particularly in 10–24-year-olds, affected suicide completion rates? Although there are data for 2021 showing number of adults in the United States with serious thoughts about suicide, with a suicide plan, and with a suicide attempt, having similar data for adults in 2022 and beyond, as well as for youth under 24 years of age for all recent years, might provide us with some valuable insights and consequent courses of action. As horrible as 49,449 deaths from suicide is, it is indeed possible that the loss of life would have been even greater without the recent heroic efforts, such as 988, brought forth in recent times.

In the meantime, there are 5 Action Steps that we can all take to help prevent suicide:

References:

CDC. Provisional suicide deaths in the United States, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0810-US-Suicide-Deaths-2022.html Published Aug. 10, 2023.

Suicide data and statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html Published Aug. 10, 2023.