Introduction
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects and publishes data on various health issues and injuries affecting different populations. One of the health concerns that continue to affect the United States population is suicide. Suicide is a significant public health concern and the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 48,000 deaths reported in 2018 (CDC, 2020). The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the data on suicide in the United States from the NCHS database and highlight the trends in morbidity and mortality by race, gender, and geographic location. The report will also present the implications for public health intervention or involvement and the ethical and legal principles pertaining to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of epidemiological data.
Database Description
The NCHS provides data on suicide in the United States through the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). The NVSS collects data on vital events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. The Mortality Multiple Cause Files (MMCF) is a part of the NVSS that contains information on the underlying and contributing causes of death. The MMCF database includes data from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, and the data are based on death certificates filed by state vital statistics offices. The data are collected, compiled, and analyzed by the NCHS, which publishes annual reports on mortality statistics, including suicide (CDC, 2020).
Trends in Morbidity and Mortality
Suicide is a complex health issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and races. According to the MMCF database, there were 47,173 suicides in the United States in 2019, with an age-adjusted suicide rate of 14.5 per 100,000 population (CDC, 2021). The data show that suicide rates have been increasing over the years, with a 35% increase from 1999 to 2018 (CDC, 2020).
Gender Differences
In 2019, males had a significantly higher suicide rate (22.9 per 100,000) than females (6.2 per 100,000) (CDC, 2021). The data also show that the suicide rate among males has been consistently higher than that of females across all age groups. The most substantial gender differences are observed among those aged 45-54 years, where the male suicide rate is nearly four times that of females.
Race and Ethnicity Differences
The MMCF data also show significant racial and ethnic disparities in suicide rates. In 2019, the highest suicide rate was observed among the White population (16.9 per 100,000), followed by the American Indian/Alaska Native (15.4 per 100,000) and the non-Hispanic Black (6.3 per 100,000) populations (CDC, 2021). The suicide rates among Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander populations were 6.0 and 5.5 per 100,000, respectively. The data also show that suicide rates increased among all race and ethnicity groups between 2009 and 2019, with the most substantial increases observed among the American Indian/Alaska Native and White populations.
Geographic Differences
Geographic location is another factor that affects suicide rates in the United States. The MMCF data show that the highest suicide rates were observed in Western states, including Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho, and Utah, while the lowest rates were observed in the Northeastern states (CDC, 2021). The data also show that suicide rates have been increasing in most states, with the highest increases observed in Western and Midwestern states.
Implications for