A new study by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows suicide rates increased 24 percent between 1999 and 2014.
The study showed that the number of suicides increased sharply after 2006. Economic conditions in the U.S. began to worsen at that time. A recession began in 2008.
The suicide rate increased for men under the age of 75 by 43 percent between 1999 and 2014. For women under the age of 75, the greatest rate of increase was among those between 45 and 64. The suicide rate among those women was 80 percent higher in 2014 than in 1999.
Men are much more likely to kill themselves than women. However, the study showed the rate of women who took their own lives grew much faster than among men.
The study found men are more likely than women to use a gun. Fifty-five percent of men who killed themselves in 2014 used a gun. Among women, 31 percent used a gun. About 34 percent of women used poison.
Suffocation is more common now than it was in 1999, when 20 percent of those who killed themselves used the method. In 2014, the rate increased to 25 percent.
The suicide rate for non-Hispanic black men was lower in 2014 than in 1999. Black men are the only ethnic group of either gender whose suicide rates decreased.
Experts say most people who try to kill themselves are not successful. They say taking steps to try to convince someone not to kill themselves is important. Researchers say removing the methods people use to kill themselves, such as guns or poison, can help for a short period. This can give long-term treatment time to take effect.
The CDC said the suicide rate is increasing while the rate of all deaths is declining. It said suicide is one of the top ten causes of death in each age group from 10 to 64 years old.
I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.
Summary of CDC Report:
- From 1999 to 2014 the suicide rate in the United States increased 24 percent. The growth rate was faster after 2006.
- Suicide rates increased from 1999 through 2014 for both males and females and for all people ages 10 to 74.
- The percentage increase in suicide rates for females was greatest for those between 10 and 14. For males, the greatest percentage increase was among those between 45 and 64.
- In 2014, more than 55 percent of men who killed themselves used guns. The most-used method among women was poisoning. More than 34 percent used this method.
- The percentage of suicides from suffocation increased for both genders between 1999 and 2014.
VOA News Writer Marissa Melton reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.
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Words in This Story
suicide – n. to kill oneself
suffocation – n. to die from lack of oxygen
gender – n. the sex someone is
