Thread by @DrHasson2

The @CDCgov suicide data for 2021 is out. Let’s review.

cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…

So deaths by suicide dropped in 2019 and 2020. But they rose in 2021 and are almost up to the peak in 2018. There were 14.1 deaths by suicide per 100,000 in 2021 (the rate was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2018)

Deaths by suicide were highest in Native American/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons (28.1 per 100,000). This represented a 26% increase from 2018.

There was also a 19.2% increase in deaths by suicide for Black individuals between 2018 and 2021 and a 7.2% in deaths by suicide for Hispanic/Latino individuals between 2018 and 2021

The only group to show a decrease? White individuals. There was a 3.9% decline.

Keep in mind these are deaths by suicide, not attempts. This is an important distinction. There are many attempts that do not result in death.

Let’s delve into the tween/adolescent/young adult data (ages 10-24) for 2018-2021

There was a 36.6% increase in deaths by suicide for Black individuals in that age group.

36.6%

For the adult data (ages 25-44) there were increases in deaths by suicide for:

Native American/Alaskan Native (33.7%)
Black (22.9%)
Hispanic (19.4%)
Multiracial (20.6%)

And the older adult data? There were decreases in the 45-64 year old age group.

12.4% decrease overall
15.9% decrease among Asian individuals
9.3% decrease among Hispanic/Latino individuals
11.5% decrease in white individuals

Suicide rates tend to stabilize or decrease during disasters. We don’t start seeing the true emotional impact of the event until after the event is over.

We can prevent suicide. #bethe1to ask and check in. And don’t forget about @988Lifeline