Prevalence of suicidal thoughts, planning, attempts described

(HealthDay)—The prevalence of suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts is described in a report published in the Jan. 7 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Asha Z. Ivey-Stephenson, Ph.D., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues summarized 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data obtained for 254,767 respondents relating to the prevalence of suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts among persons aged 18 years or older.

The researchers observed variation in the prevalence estimates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors by sociodemographic factors, region, and state. An estimated 10.6 million (annual average) adults in the United States (4.3 percent of the adult population) reported having had suicidal thoughts during the previous year in 2015 to 2019. The prevalence varied from 4.0 percent in the Northeast and South to 4.8 percent in the West. Overall, 1.3 percent of the adult population (estimated 3.1 million adults) had made a suicide plan in the past year, with prevalence ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 percent in the Northeast and in the Midwest and West, respectively. Furthermore, 0.6 percent of the adult population (estimated 1.4 million adults) had made a suicide attempt in the past year. Women had a higher past-year prevalence of suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts than men, while prevalence was also higher for adults aged 18 to 39 years versus those aged 40 years or older.

"These analyses support more recent efforts in public health to build and sustain the momentum of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention," the authors write.

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