Sucidality Is Increasing in the U.S.

To elucidate recent trends in suicide, investigators examined national database statistics on suicide attempts (fatal and nonfatal) from 2006 to 2015 among persons aged 10 to 74 years.

More than 1.2 million suicide attempts occurred during this period. The incidence rate (suicide attempts per the total U.S. population) increased by 10%, from 175 to 193 per 100,000 persons, while the fatality rate (suicide fatalities per attempts) increased by 13%, from 7.3% to 8.3%. Attempts by less lethal methods such as overdose did not increase, whereas attempts by more lethal methods such as shooting and hanging increased in people aged 20 to 64 years, and hangings increased by 8% per year among females. The number of attempts, but not fatalities, increa…