Suicides in the U.S. increased in 2021

Written By Michelle Boodoo

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports:

  • 47,646 individuals died by suicide in 2021

  • The rate was 4% higher than in 2020

  • 38,025 were males

  • 9,621 were females

  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-34

People with depression tend to feel ashamed or scared to ask for help, leading them to pretend to smile, laugh, socialize, etc. Everything might look fantastic on the outside, but they are slowly slipping away on the inside. Please check on friends and family who are depressed, suicidal, or attempted suicide. Learn the warning signs and symptoms and check on your loved ones before it’s too late. We all need to be part of the solution to help those suffering in silence. Here are some things you can do to help your loved ones. 

  • Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. The service is free and confidential.

  • Seek professional help as soon as possible

  • Learn the symptoms and warning signs

  • Ask them the difficult questions

  • Listen, love, and care for the ones in crisis.

If you or someone you know is thinking about hurting themselves, CALL or TEXT the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or go to the website at https://988lifeline.org.

For more information about the statistics, go to https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr024.pdf.

Michelle Boodoo
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