Suicide Mortality in the United States, 2002-2022.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Population-based national vital statistics registry study
PubMed 39392858 · doi:10.15620/cdc/160504
What was done
Analyzed US mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System multiple cause-of-death files from 2002 through 2022. Suicide deaths were identified using ICD-10 underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Age-adjusted death rates were computed using the direct method based on the 2000 U.S. standard population. Pairwise comparisons were evaluated with z-tests (alpha = 0.05) and temporal trends were analyzed using joinpoint regression.
What was found
After increasing from 2002 to 2018, the age-adjusted suicide rate declined from 14.2 per 100,000 in 2018 to 13.5 in 2020, then increased 5% to 14.2 in 2022. Between 2020 and 2022, rates generally rose in females aged 25 and older. In males, rates decreased among ages 10–14 and 15–24 but generally increased in older age groups. Firearms were the leading method of suicide in 2022 for both females (2.0 per 100,000, increasing since 2007) and males (13.5 per 100,000, increasing since 2006).
Why it matters
These finalized national statistics establish that the brief 2018–2020 decrease in US suicide rates was reversed by 2022, largely driven by continuing rises in firearm-related suicides and increases in older demographic groups.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total number of suicide deaths. Vital statistics mortality records rely on death certificate classifications, which may undercount or misclassify suicides (e.g., as accidental poisonings). Contributing clinical, psychiatric, and socioeconomic variables were not reported.