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Suicide Trends Among Persons Aged 10-24 years

Year: 2015

Previous reports have noted that trends in suicide rates vary by mechanism and by age group in the U.S., with increasing rates of suffocation suicides among young persons. To test whether this increase is continuing and to determine whether it varies by demographic subgroups among persons aged 10 to 24 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) mortality data for the period 1994 to 2012. Results of the analysis indicated that, during 1994 to 2012, suicide rates by suffocation increased on average by 6.7 percent and 2.2 percent annually for females and males, respectively. Increases in suffocation suicide rates occurred across demographic and geographic subgroups during this period. Clinicians, hotline staff, and others who work with young persons need to be aware of current trends in suffocation suicides in this group so that they can accurately assess risk and educate families. Media coverage of suicide incidents and clusters should follow established guidelines to avoid exacerbating risk for "suicide contagion" among vulnerable young persons. Suicide contagion is a process by which exposure to the suicide or suicidal behavior of one or more persons influences others who are already vulnerable and thinking about suicide to attempt or die by suicide.