5 Facts To Know About Suicide From New CDC Report

The deaths of designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain have brought renewed attention to the issue of suicide. The same week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report that showed suicide rates in the United States have increased nearly 30 percent since 1999.

Research has shown that celebrity suicides can lead to copycat suicides and one study published this year found that after the death of Robin Williams in 2014, there was a 10 percent increase in suicides. Of particular importance is how the media cover suicide: Guidelines for such coverage cite studies that have found if a story describes the suicide method or uses a dramatic/graphic headline, the risk of additional suicides increase.

The Department of Health and Human Services says suicide is the result of many complex factors and media reports should not provide oversimplified explanations for the suicide. One of the findings in the new CDC report was that 54 percent of people who died by suicide did not have any known mental health conditions. That finding was based on 2015 suicide data from 27 states.

Here's 5 other facts about suicide you may not know:

1. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and is one of three leading causes of death that is increasing, according to the CDC.

2. The suicide rate increased in every state in the U.S. between 1999 and 2016 except Nevada, though the suicide rate in the state was consistently high throughout this period.

3. According to the CDC, firearms were the most common method of suicide overall.

4. Suicide is rarely caused by just one factor and the CDC report examined the many factors, including relationship problems, financial and physical health problems that can put a person at-risk for suicide.

5. Suicide rates increased among men and women, all racial and ethnic groups and among all age groups between 1999 and 2016.

According to the CDC, the 12 warning signs of suicide are:

• Feeling like a burden,
• Being isolated,
• Increased anxiety,
• Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain,
• Increased substance use,
• Looking for a way to access lethal means,
• Increased anger or rage,
• Extreme mood swings,
• Expressing hopelessness,
• Sleeping too little or too much,
• Talking or posting about wanting to die, and
• Making plans for suicide

The reported also highlighted what different groups can do to prevent suicides. The CDC says if you are worried about someone who is thinking of suicide, you can follow these steps:

• Ask someone you are worried about if they're thinking about suicide.
• Keep them safe. Reduce access to lethal means for those at risk.
• Be there with them. Listen to what they need.
• Help them connect with ongoing support like the Lifeline — (800) 273-8255.
• Follow up to see how they’re doing.
• Find out how this can save a life by visiting: www.bethe1to.com

Anyone struggling with mental health can get help by calling National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, visiting this website or by texting HOME to 741741.

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