The increased rate of suicides being reported across the globe is a cause of grave concern. In this regard, the recent figures released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are quite frightening. According to the report, the year 2022 has the highest number of suicides reported in a single year in US history, with 49,449 people killed by suicide this year.
According to the data released by the CDC, there has been a 2.6% increase in suicide cases over the previous year, which in many ways raises questions about mental health and social fabric.
According to CDC data, between 2021-2022, suicide among people aged 10 to 24 has decreased by 8.4%. It is estimated that 6,529 people in this age group will die by suicide in 2022. "Nine out of 10 Americans believe the country is facing a serious mental health crisis," US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. Scientists say timely mental health monitoring and treatment can be promoted. This risk can be reduced by giving
The suicide rate has increased
This data on suicides is based on death certificates, although it has yet to be fully reviewed. The latest data states that the death rate by suicide has been 14.9 for every one lakh people, which was 14.2 deaths in 2018.
Health experts say, “These figures strongly emphasize that we must expand people's access to mental health care, address the root causes of mental health, and recognize the importance of test-treat.
There can be many reasons for suicide
Experts say the rise in suicides could be due to several reasons, with high rates of depression and limited availability of mental health services believed to be the main reasons.
However, according to Jill Harkavy-Friedman, head of research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, one of the main reasons for the increase in suicides is the increased availability of guns. A recent Johns Hopkins University analysis also reported that the country's gun suicide rate reached an all-time high last year.
What Do CDC Experts Say?
Middle-aged and older people experience serious mental health problems because of situations such as losing a job or the death of a spouse, says Debra Howry, the CDC's chief medical officer. Access to mental health care for such people is also seen to be very low.
However, the good thing about these figures is that in the year 2022, there has been a decline of more than 8 percent in suicide among people aged 10 to 24 years. This may be due to the increased attention paid to mental health issues among youth and the focus on the problem by schools and others. We need to ensure this reaches people of all age groups.
(PC: Freepik)
