Almost 45,000 Americans aged 10 or older died by suicide alone in 2016.
The Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America.
According to another report by the CDC, 10 out of 100,000 people died from suicide in 2005. In contrast, 12 out of 100,000 people died from suicide in 2012. Out of the 10 leading causes of death suicide is the only leading cause that has not seen a decrease in the numbers.
The rates of suicide vary from state to state, rates increased in nearly all states. The percentage increases range from just under 6 percent in Delaware and over 57 percent in North Dakota.
Researchers found that over half of the suicide deaths were people who did not have a known mental health condition.
For the people included in the study, there are many factors that contribute to suicide. Whether or not they had mental health conditions; 46 percent committed suicide because of relationship problems, 29 percent had problems in the past or upcoming two weeks, 28 percent had problematic substance abuse, 22 percent had physical health problems, 16 percent had job/financial problems, 9 percent had criminal/legal problems, and 4 percent committed suicide due to loss of housing.
Although these people committed suicide primarily because of a particular problem, it should also be noted that there may have been multiple factors contributing to an individual’s suicide.
For men aged 75 and older, a combination of multiple chronic illnesses and other suicidal factors is a fatal combination. Clinical psychologist and associate professor Amy Fiske said that men place autonomy very highly in their lives. The older they get the less control they have over their own lives. Due to the value they place on independence, they are unlikely to seek help, United Health Care reports.
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