Suicide Deaths at Record Levels

More than 49,000 people died by suicide across America in 2022, a record number driven largely by an increase in the number of firearm-related deaths, a new Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of provisional CDC data shows.

Firearm-related suicide deaths have been increasing in recent years and are now the most common method of suicide, accounting for 55% of all suicide deaths in both 2021 and 2022. Deaths from other suicide methods have remained relatively steady.

The recent increase in suicide deaths follows high levels of mental health symptoms during the COVID pandemic, financial stressors, and difficulty accessing needed mental health care— particularly for some populations. Read more here.