In the wake of the two recent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, a new CDC report has come out about the clear rise in suicides in the last twenty years.
The number of suicides across all racial and ethnic groups, in both men and women, in both cities and rural areas, and across all age groups below 75 has risen overall since 1999. This is according to a recent report from Centers for disease Control and Prevention that claims the suicide rate has increased nearly 30 percent.
The CDC report does not mention why suicide rates have risen so much and so consistently across the country, however it lists a range of circumstances that have been identified as potential risk factors for suicide. Relationship problems, life stressors, and recent or impending crises were listed among the most identifiable factors in many suicides.
As of 2017, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in Americans following closely behind the flu and diabetes. Around 44,200 people across the country died from suicide last year.
The CDC report covers the time period from 1999 to 2016, which includes the Great Recession, where suicides related to foreclosure or eviction doubled between 2005 and 2010.
"States can use a comprehensive evidence-based public health approach to prevent suicide risk before it occurs, identify and support persons at risk, prevent reattempts, and help friends and family members in the aftermath of a suicide," the CDC reports.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
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