Work

Trends in Suicide Among Black Women in the United States, 1999–2020

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Recent increases in suicide deaths among Black women in the US warrant further investigation. Our objective was to clarify the epidemiology of suicide among Black girls and women, by estimating age-period-cohort effects on suicide rates among decedents coded as female aged 15-84 years. METHODS: The present study examined annual time-series data from the National Center for Health Statistics’ Multiple Cause of Death 1999-2020 database. Suicide rates by age, period, and cohort were visualized using hexagonal maps, and estimated using modified Poisson regression to address identifiability. RESULTS: In total, our analysis included 9,271 suicide deaths. Results indicated the presence of all three effects: (i) a clear age effect, with higher rates at younger ages, regardless of cohort and time, (ii) a period effect, with rates generally increasing across time for most ages, and (iii) a cohort effect, with a clustering of increased suicide rates among the youngest cohorts. Across regions, rates were highest among the youngest age groups, concentrated in the West. CONCLUSION: Suicide is increasing rapidly among Black females – with particularly concerning trends among the youngest Black females born in the most recent birth cohorts. Findings suggest a need for increased mental health access and geographically targeted prevention efforts.

Source: American Journal of Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230254