Suicide deaths increased by 37% between 2000 and 2018, with 41 states experiencing statistically significant increases over the same period, according to a pair of reports released this month by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center.

Over that 19-year period, the data shows suicide deaths killed over 700,000 people, more than the roughly 450,000 killed by opioids. The report comparing states’ trends said increases in suicide deaths ranged from 10-20% to more than 80%, but some states with higher increases are still below the national average.

The authors note that “the most concerning findings from our study is the indication that the increase in suicide rates over the past two decades may be accelerating.”

The study does not include projections from “deaths of despair” related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Related News Articles

Headline
A Gallup report published Sept. 9 found that nearly 48 million Americans currently have or are being treated for depression. The total, which equals 18.3% of…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration Sept. 10 released draft guidance on non-opioid treatments for treating chronic pain and reducing prescription opioid misuse.…
Headline
A Health Affairs study published Sept. 2 found that less than 40% of Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder received standard care in alignment with…
Blog
In this insightful conversation hosted by Nancy Myers of the American Hospital Association, we explore how Owensboro Health (Ky.) and CredibleMind are…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration July 31 announced that it is requiring safety label changes to all opioid pain medications to further emphasize and explain…
Headline
The Senate Appropriations Committee July 31 advanced the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,…