About 740,000 suicides are reported annually: that’s one death on average every 43 seconds, one of the many disturbing findings in the latest and most comprehensive analysis published today in The Lancet Public Health.
Researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in Seattle conducted a deep dive of the Global Burden of Disease data by region, country, year, age, sex, and suicide by firearms from 1990 to 2021.
Over the last three decades, the global age-standardized mortality rate for suicide declined by nearly 40%, from about 15 deaths per 100,000 to 9 deaths per 100,000, indicating that intervention and prevention are working. For females, the rate declined by more than 50%, while it declined by almost 34% for males. Regionally, East Asia recorded the largest decline of 66% with China reporting the largest decline in the region.
While the progress is encouraging, it’s not universal. Four regions reported increases in the suicide rate for both sexes combined during the same period. Central Latin America had the highest jump at 39%, with Mexico at the top of the region’s list with a 123% increase for females alone.
Andean Latin America had the second highest increase of 13%, with Ecuador recording the largest rise for both sexes combined in the region. Tropical Latin America was third with a 9% increase, and Paraguay was at the top of the region’s list for both sexes combined.
High-income North America registered a 7% increase, with the U.S. at the top of the region’s list with a 23% jump for females alone.
Among the 2021 global causes of death, suicide was ranked 21st (higher than HIV/AIDS) for both sexes combined. Regionally, the highest mortality rates from suicide were in Eastern Europe, Southern sub-Saharan Africa, and Central sub-Saharan Africa. For males, suicide was the 19th-leading cause of death globally, with Eastern Europe recording the highest death rate. For females, suicide was ranked 27th globally, with South Asia having the highest rate for females.
“While the progress made in declining suicide rates is encouraging, it is clear that suicide continues to impact some countries and populations more than others. Removing suicide stigma and barriers to access mental health support systems remain critical measures, particularly among people with mental and substance abuse disorders,” said senior author Dr. Mohsen Naghavi with IHME.
Previous studies found that victims of violence, sexual assault, and childhood trauma are observed to be at increased risk for suicide. Research has consistently shown that access to lethal means, such as guns and pesticide, is associated with higher rates of suicides. Prior evidence suggests that poverty and social deprivation are also associated with suicide.
The latest numbers also underscore a grim difference between males and females globally, regionally, and nationally. Males were more than twice as likely to die from suicide than females, but females were 49% more likely to attempt it.
According to researchers, every minute, four men and six women needed inpatient treatment due to suicide attempts. Overall, the mortality rate for suicide was 12.8 per 100,000 population for males and 5.4 per 100,000 population for females.
The incidence of suicide attempts requiring medical care that did not result in death was three times higher for females compared to males. This difference was highest in high-income North America, with one in 30.7 attempts resulting in death for females and one in 6.3 attempts resulting in death for males.
Globally, males were more than three times as likely to die by suicide using firearms than females: 10% of suicides by males were with guns, while 3% of suicides by females were with guns. The U.S. had the highest firearm-related suicides in the world: nearly 22,000 or 55% of suicides by males were with guns, while more than 3,000 or nearly 31% of suicides by females were with guns.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
“Men tend to choose more violent and lethal methods of suicide such as guns, while women are more likely to choose less fatal means such as poisoning and overdosing, which have a higher survival rate,” said Emily Rosenblad, the study’s second author and project officer at IHME.
Both males and females globally are dying by suicide later in life. In 1990, the average age at death for males was 43 years, and for females it was almost 42 years. By 2021, the average age at death had climbed to 47 for males and nearly 47 for females. The highest mean age was about 58 years for males and 60 years for females, both in East Asia. Conversely, the youngest average age at suicide was found in Oceania, where it was 36 years for males and 34 years for females.
The study identifies the existing patterns and trends to develop more effective suicide prevention methods around the world, which can help policymakers and health care workers develop better-customized strategies and approaches for specific locations and populations.
Suicide prevention is most effective when communities work together through awareness, intervention, and support systems.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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