Firearm Suicides Reach Unprecedented High Rates
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that firearm suicides reached "unprecedented" high rates last year.
According to researchers, firearm suicides accounted for approximately half of overall suicide deaths in 2022. Out of the nearly 50,000 overall suicide deaths, about 27,000 were gun-related.
The analysis, which utilized data from 2019 to 2022, also highlighted a significant increase in firearm suicides.
"The annual U.S. firearm suicide rate increased by approximately 11% from 7.3 per 100,000 in 2019 to 8.1 in 2022, marking the highest documented level since at least 1968," stated the authors of the study.
The authors further noted that the rate increase varied among different ethnic groups. For instance, non-Hispanic White persons experienced the highest overall rate in 2022 (11.1), representing a 9% increase from 2019 (10.2). However, the largest rate increase (66%) was observed among American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons. The firearm suicide rate among AI/AN individuals rose from 6.4 in 2019 to 10.6 in 2022.
Systematic inequities, such as limited access to mental health care and high unemployment rates, may have contributed to the increase in suicide rates among the American Indian and Alaska Native community. These issues may have been further exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has also been identified as a potential factor in the overall increase in suicide rates. It has worsened known risk factors such as social isolation, relationship stressors, and substance use.
In addition to the data on firearm suicides, the CDC has recently released information on overall suicide deaths in the United States for the previous year.
According to the provisional data, suicide deaths reached a record high in 2022, although there was a decrease among children and young adults. The CDC estimated that there were 49,449 suicide deaths in 2022, which is 3% higher than the previous year's total of 48,183.
The decrease in suicide rates among younger age groups is a positive development after years of concerning increases. However, research also indicates that youth mental health is in crisis, especially among teenage girls. A CDC survey conducted earlier this year found that approximately 1 in 3 high school girls...
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If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email [email protected].
