Experts say it\u2019s unclear whether this decline will continue<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 The U.S. suicide rate dipped slightly in 2024, offering a small but hopeful improvement after years of increases, according to new provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/p>\n
A little over 48,800 people died by suicide last year, about 500 fewer than in 2023.<\/p>\n
That translates to a national rate of 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people, down from more than 14 per 100,000 the year before.<\/p>\n
“Whether this is a blip on the radar\u201d or the start of a prolonged decline, is unclear, Katherine Keyes<\/a>, a public health professor at Columbia University, told The Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n Suicide remains the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S., data shows<\/a>, and rates have generally climbed for almost two decades with only a brief dip at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic before rising again.<\/p>\n Many factors can increase suicide risk, including depression, difficulty accessing mental health care and the easy accessibility to firearms.<\/p>\n About 55% of suicide deaths involve guns, according to CDC data.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s small decline wasn\u2019t seen across all groups, though. Adults in their late 20s and early 30s showed a notable drop, but most other age groups remained stable.<\/p>\n Rates also varied by region, falling in parts of the South and Midwest while staying high in the Mountain West.<\/p>\n Some experts point to improved screening efforts in large health systems, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as one possible reason for the drop.<\/p>\n Another factor may be the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which has been in place for three years and connects millions of callers to trained mental health counselors.<\/p>\n The hotline includes a dedicated option for military veterans, who are at a higher risk for suicide.<\/p>\n But experts also expressed concern about recent changes to the system.<\/p>\n Last summer, the Trump administration removed the option that allowed LGBTQ+ callers under 25 to connect directly with a counselor trained to support them.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good sign that we\u2019re eliminating programs that are designed to reach out to the highest-risk individuals,\u201d Keyes said.<\/p>\n Stigma remains a barrier too. Suicides are often underreported because some families are uncomfortable acknowledging the cause of death, historian Alexandra Lord<\/a> of the National Museum of American History, explained to The Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n But experts say people are generally more open to seeking help today compared with the past.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The 988 Lifeline<\/a> is available for anyone facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns or who just needs someone to talk to. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center has additional resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n