Vital Signs: Suicide rising across the US

Suicide rates rose across the US from 1999 to 2016.

SOURCE: CDC’s National Vital Statistics System

Differences exist among those with and without mental health conditions. People without known mental health conditions were more likely to be male and to die by firearm.

No known mental health conditions.

Sex

Female 16%

Male 84%

Method

Other 8%

Poisoning 10%

Suffocation 27%

Firearm 55%

Known mental health conditions

Sex     

Female 31%

Male 69%

Method

Other 8%

Poisoning 20%

Suffocation 31%

Firearm 41%

Many factors contribute to suicide among those with and without mental health conditions

Relationship problem (42%)

Problematic substance use (28%)

Crisis in the past or upcoming two weeks (29%)

Criminal legal problem (9%)

Physical health problem (22%)

Loss of housing (4%)

Job/Financial problem (16%)

Note: Persons who died by suicide may have had multiple circumstances. Data on mental health conditions and other factors are from coroner/medical examiner and law enforcement reports. It is possible that mental health conditions or other circumstances could have been present and not diagnosed, known, or reported.

SOURCE: CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System, data from 27 states participating in 2015.