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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its new mortality data report that is related to suicide using the 2018 data in the United States. It was found in the CDC report that suicide remains as one of the leading causes of death in the country. Unfortunately, it has increased by 1.4 percent since 2017.

It can be recalled that the CDC last released its report in 2017 where it was found that 47,173 suicide deaths were reported to the CDC, not including those who attempted to commit suicide in 2017 and 2018. Meanwhile, the number of persons who committed suicide in 2018 was 48,344, an increase of 1,171 additional deaths reported.

Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Vice President of Research for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the nation's largest organization for suicide prevention, said: "This increase in the suicide rate is very disappointing. Suicide remains the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. However, there is a reason for hope. The 2018 mortality data is showing a smaller percentage increase when compared to last year's mortality data report - 1.4 percent increase in 2018 versus an almost 4 percent increase in 2017."

Friedman added "Until we scale up intervention efforts at the community, state, and national levels, we will likely continue to see an increase in suicides in the United States. Suicide is preventable. As a nation, we must take action by making a major investment in suicide research; translating that research into treating mental health; and further educating the public on the warning signs of suicide and what to do if someone is struggling." 

In a recent report from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is still the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In the same year, there were 48,344 Americans who died because of suicide and a reported 1.4 million plus suicide attempts in 2017. This cost the country $69 billion in 2015, just in suicides alone.

It was also found in their report that the age-adjusted suicide rate in 2018 was 14.2 percent in every 100,000 gpeople. While in 2017 it was found that men died from suicide three times more often compared to women. Moreover, white-Americans accounted for 69.67 percent of suicide-deaths based on recorded data. 

Also, middle-age white-men have recorded the highest suicide rate compared to other groups as there are 129 recorded suicides per day. The suicide rate has surged across all states in the country from 2007 to 2018. 

However, despite the spiking number of suicide rates in the United States, there arecways in which the country can reduce its suicide rate. These are three of them according to an article in Latin Times:

1. People living in the United States must have access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare that includes mental health care which is the main and specific concern of suicide prevention that must be addressed. In many researches, it was found out that mental health is the main issue of suicide or 90 percent of those who are diagnosed with mental health committed suicide.

2. There should be comprehensive training for clinicians and physicians on how to better screen persons with mental health and their suicide risk. Most of all, they must have enough knowledge when it comes to detecting risk and provide lifesaving treatment.

3. Most of all, everyone should have an improved understanding of help-seeking and how to have caring and informed conversations about mental health.

Friedman concluded in his report, "As a nation, we need to significantly increase our investment in science, education, and advocacy, to expand effective suicide prevention efforts. The lives of millions of Americans depend on it."