WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: Newly released government data reveals that the United States experienced its highest recorded number of deaths in 2022, as more than 49,000 individuals took their own lives during that year, according to the information posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday.
The data suggest that suicides in the US have become more prevalent than at any point since World War II. From the early 2000s until 2018, the rate of suicides in the US steadily increased, reaching its highest level since 1941, with approximately 48,300 suicide deaths that year – translating to 14.2 suicides per 100,000 Americans.
Following a slight decline in 2019 and another decrease in 2020, which coincided with the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the suicide rate saw a 4 percent rise in 2021. The newly released data shows that last year, the number of suicides increased by more than 1,000 to reach 49,449 – marking a 3 percent surge compared to the previous year.
The CDC data highlights that in 2022, around 79 percent of the total suicides were accounted for by men.
US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra conveyed in a statement, “Nine in 10 Americans believe America is facing a mental health crisis. The new suicide death data reported by CDC illustrate why.” He emphasized that a significant number of individuals still perceive seeking help as a sign of weakness.
