Citation

Curtin SC, Warner MA, Hedegaard HB. NCHS Data Brief 2016; (241).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, United States National Center for Health Statistics)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Suicide is increasing against the backdrop of generally declining mortality, and is currently one of the 10 leading causes of death overall and within each age group 10-64 (4). This report highlights increases in suicide mortality from 1999 through 2014 and shows that while the rate increased almost steadily over the period, the average annual percent increase was greater for the second half of this period (2006-2014) than for the first half (1999-2006). Increases in suicide rates occurred for both males and females in all but the oldest age group (75 and over). Percent increases in rates were greatest for females aged 10-14 and for males, those aged 45-64. The male-female disparity in suicide rates (as measured by rate ratios) narrowed slightly over the period. Poisoning was the most common suicide method for females in 2014, and firearms were the most frequent for males, but both sexes showed increases since 1999 in the percentage of suicides attributable to suffocation. Suicide numbers and rates for females and males by Hispanic origin and race for 1999 and 2014 are also available.


Data sources and methods

Mortality and population data are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics 1999-2014 multiple cause-of-death mortality files (6). Suicide deaths are those classified with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60-X84, and Y87.0 (7). Suicide deaths are categorized by method of injury using the following ICD-10 codes: firearm (X72-X74), suffocation (X70), poisoning (X60-X69), and other methods (U03, X71, X75-X84, and Y87.0).

Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the 2000 standard population (8). Demographic information comes from death certificates. Population data for 2000 and 2010 are April 1 bridged-race census counts, and for 1999, 2001-2009, and 2011-2014 are July 1 bridged-race estimates from the vintage 2014 postcensal series. Trends in age-adjusted death rates were evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression Program (9). Suicide rates by age group were analyzed by comparing 1999 and 2014 only; trends during this time period were not analyzed and may have varied by subgroup. The small number of suicides during 1999-2014 for persons aged 5-9 years (79) were included in the total age-adjusted rates and in the percentages by method. Male-female differences in suicide rates were based on rate ratios calculated as male age-adjusted rate divided by female age-adjusted rate.

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

Language: en