U.S. Suicide Rates by Age Group, 1970-2002: An Examination of Recent Trends

• NCJ Number: 216724
• Journal: American Journal of Public Health Volume: 96 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 1744-1751
• Author(s): Robert E. McKeown Ph.D.; Steven P. Cuffe M.D.; Richard M. Schulz Ph.D.
• Date Published: October 2006
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Free online PDF and HTML access to the American Journal of Public Health is provided by the publisher 24 months after individual issues are released.

Annotation

This study analyzed trends in United States suicide rates by age group for the period 1970 through 2002.

Abstract

The findings revealed a decline in suicide rates over the past 15 years for the oldest age group and over the past 10 years for the youngest age group. More specifically, results indicated that suicide rates have declined since 1994 for the adolescent and young adult age group (aged 15 to 24 years) while suicide rates among the oldest group (aged 65 years and older) increased in 2002 after a period of decline between 1987 through 2001. Suicide rates have increased each year since 1999 for those aged 45 to 64 years while suicide rates among those aged 25 to 44 years have remained stable since 1999. The authors consider possible factors influencing U.S. suicide rates, including the economy, an increase in healthy life expectancy, a decline in substance abuse, and medical care improvements. Findings from previous research are presented that indicate that the change in suicide rates among older adults may be associated with the introduction of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in January 1988. Possible reasons for the connection between newer antidepressants (SSRIs) and suicide are considered. Data on U.S. suicide deaths were drawn from the International Classification of Diseases, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Revisions, the annual Vital Statistics of the United States reports for the years 1970 to 1990, and from the National Center for Health Statistics’ annual mortality reports for the years 1991 through 2002. Data on populations were drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau enumerations on April 1 for the census years 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000. Trends in suicide among four different age groups for the period 1990 through 2002 were examined using Poisson regression models. Future research should investigate the larger social trends that may be impacting suicide rates. Figure, references