Suicidality and Death by Suicide Among Middle-aged Adults in the United States

Suicidality and Death by Suicide Among Middle-aged Adults in the United States

SUICIDALITY AND DEATH BY SUICIDE AMONG MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES

AUTHORS

Kathryn Downey Piscopo, Ph.D.

In Brief

• The 2009 to 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data indicate that middle-aged adults (45- to 64-year olds) had significantly lower percentages  of suicidal thoughts and attempts (3.5 and 0.3 percent, respectively) compared to 18 to 25 year olds, which had the highest rate of suicidal thoughts and attempts (6.9 and 1.2 percent, respectively).

• According to NSDUH data, the annual average percentage of middle-aged adults who had serious thoughts of suicide ranged from 3.3 percent in 2011 to 2012 to 3.5 percent in 2009 to 2010 and 3.6 percent in 2013 to 2014. The annual average percentage of middle-aged adults who attempted suicide ranged from 0.3 percent in 2009 to 2010, 0.4 percent in 2011 to 2012 and 0.3 percent in 2013 to 2014.

• Data from the National Vital Statistics System show that 45- to 64- year olds had the highest increase in the death rate for suicide (13.2 to 19.5 deaths per 100,000) between 1999 and 2014 compared to other age groups.