As the U.S. Prepares to
Launch a National Three-Digit Number for the Mental Health Crisis Hotline
in July, Data Show Suicide Death Rates Increased in the Decade from 2010
to 2020, Especially Among People of Color
As the federal
government prepares to launch the national three-digit number “988” for
the mental health crisis hotline next month, a new KFF
analysis shows that suicide death rates increased by 12
percent in the decade from 2010 to 2020 -- with death rates rising
fastest among people of color, younger individuals, and people who live
in rural areas.
The number of suicide deaths peaked at 48,344 in 2018 and then decreased
slightly in 2019 and 2020, although some research suggests that some
suicides may be misclassified as drug overdose deaths. Between 2019 and
2020, drug overdose deaths increased by 31 percent.
Suicide deaths by firearms accounted for more than half of the 45,979
suicides in 2020, the most complete data available, according to the
analysis. Looked at another way, suicide deaths accounted for more than
half (54%) of all deaths involving a firearm in 2020.
Among people of color, the highest increase in suicide death rates was
among Black people (43% increase), followed by American Indian or Alaska
Natives (41%), and Hispanic people (27%). As of 2020, American Indian and
Alaska Native people had the highest suicide death rate, at 23.9 per
100,000 people – substantially higher than the rate for White people
(16.8 per 100,000 people). Suicide death rates for Black, Hispanic, and
Asian and Pacific Islander people were all less than half the rate for
White people.
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