U.S. had record number of suicide deaths in 2022, CDC says

At least 49,449 people in the United States died by suicide last year, according to a report published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The country’s suicide fatalities increased by three percent compared to 2021—marking the highest number ever recorded in one year, going back to at least 1941. Men were about four times more likely than women to take their own lives, according to the data. Despite the overall increase, rates dropped for children and young adults ages 10 to 24.

What about life expectancy? Life expectancy in the United States rose to about 77.5 years in 2022, the CDC said on Wednesday. It is still below the average life expectancy before the COVID-19 pandemic. Health conditions like heart disease and cancer remain the leading causes of death in the country. Rising suicide rates and drug overdose deaths have also contributed to declines in life expectancy, the CDC said.

Dig deeper: Read Alexandra Ellison’s report in Vitals about Canada’s push to expand assisted suicide.