Changes in Suicide Rates — United States, 2019 and 2020

Abstract

TABLE. Annual number of suicides and age-adjusted* rates of suicide † per 100,000 population, by selected characteristics -National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2019 and 2020 Characteristic 2019 2020 Absolute change § Relative change ¶ No. Rate (95% CI) No. Rate (95% CI) Overall Total 47,511 13.9 (13.8-14.1) 45,979 13.5 (13.4-13.6) −0.4** −3.0** Race/Ethnicity † †

Police-reported suicides during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador: A time-series analysis of trends and risk factors until June 2021

“…In terms of suicide methods, our findings that the proportion of suicides by hanging increased contrasts with the decreases recorded in hanging in a study from Romania 23 and in suffocation (largely hanging) in the US. 24 However, our findings that suicide by poisoning declined are consistent with US findings. 24 It is possible that self-poisoning may be more difficult to implement if others are at home due to stay-at-home orders; likewise, the suicide attempt may be discovered earlier, leading to prompt hospital treatment saving the life of the person who attempted to take his own life.…”

“… 24 However, our findings that suicide by poisoning declined are consistent with US findings. 24 It is possible that self-poisoning may be more difficult to implement if others are at home due to stay-at-home orders; likewise, the suicide attempt may be discovered earlier, leading to prompt hospital treatment saving the life of the person who attempted to take his own life.…”

“… 21 Ethnic disparities in the impact of the pandemic on suicide rates have been reported in studies from the United States. 24 Our finding of a decrease in the proportion of suicides by indigenous people is consistent with the decreases observed in the suicide rates of Native Hawaiian people in the US. 24 However, Ehlman et al 24 also reported nonsignificant increases in American Indian or Alaska Native suicides and, in keeping with our study, increases in people of mixed race.…”

“… 24 Our finding of a decrease in the proportion of suicides by indigenous people is consistent with the decreases observed in the suicide rates of Native Hawaiian people in the US. 24 However, Ehlman et al 24 also reported nonsignificant increases in American Indian or Alaska Native suicides and, in keeping with our study, increases in people of mixed race. It is possible that associations may depend on whether a specific ethnic group is a minority or a majority population in the geographical region they inhabit.…”

In the Midst of a Pandemic, Introverts May Have a Mortality Advantage

“…Yet, there is little evidence that suicide rates increased during the pandemic. In fact, contrary to many predictions, suicide mortality was significantly lower than expected throughout March-December 2020 (Glei, 2022), although there appears to have been a small increase among Americans aged 25-34 (Ehlman, 2022).…”