The United States recorded more deaths by suicide in 2022 than any other year since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began compiling statistics in 1941.
At least 49,449 Americans died by suicide last year. This equates to over 14 deaths for every 100,000 people, representing a 3 percent increase in the suicide rate compared to 2021. This figure could climb even higher as additional death certificates with pending causes are finalized.
Trends in Suicide Demographics
Men died by suicide at nearly four times the rate of women in 2022, according to
data released by the CDC. Senior men faced the highest suicide rates among male demographics.
While concerning, one slight improvement emerged—suicide rates for children and teenagers are declining. In 2022, the suicide rate among children aged 10 to 14 decreased by 18 percent, amounting to approximately 2 fatalities per 100,000 children. Additionally, the suicide rate for individuals aged 15 to 24 also saw a 9 percent decline, resulting in around 14 deaths per 100,000 people.
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Teen boys and young men improved more than young women. However, males still account for most youth suicides.
Rates increased for all age groups over 35.
For context, the CDC reports show suicide rates rising nationwide over recent decades. In 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for a new national suicide prevention strategy, particularly focusing on youth mental health amid an alarming increase in the mental health challenges among young people exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
His advisory targeted action across healthcare, schools, employers, and governments to ease pandemic-related stresses facing young people. “To be sure, this isn’t an issue we can fix overnight or with a single prescription,” Dr. Murthy
wrote at the time.
What’s Driving Suicide Rates?
A July 2023 analysis from Johns Hopkins University of the CDC’s preliminary data highlighted access to firearms as a potential driver of rising suicide rates. Over half of the suicides in 2022 involved guns.
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“The provisional data shows that the American epidemic of gun violence persists,” Ari Davis, policy adviser at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
said in a press release. “Gun suicides continue to take the lives of elderly white men at high rates and increasingly, the lives of Black teens.”
Aligning with gun availability, experts point to declining mental health, well-being, and economic hardship—especially among middle-aged groups—as factors behind the uptick in suicide rates, according to the
National Bureau of Economic Research.
Initiatives to Address High Suicide Rates
In July 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the national 988 crisis hotline for suicide prevention and mental health support.
Managed by the
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), the service offers 24/7 phone, text, and chat access to trained counselors. People experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance abuse issues, emotional distress, or mental health crises can reach out for help. Those worried about loved ones can also dial 988 to get crisis resources.
Since its launch, the hotline has fielded over 7 million contacts. And as of September 2023, 988 added ASL capabilities to increase accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing users.
In addition, the Surgeon General has outlined a
suicide prevention strategy. It has 13 goals, including activating public health responses, addressing risk factors, improving crisis care and transitions, and expanding evidence-based suicide prevention.
Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 to connect with a trained counselor, or visit the 988 Lifeline website. 
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