According to preliminary data, suicides in the US dropped by almost 6% last year, despite concerns that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to an increase in the number of deaths.
The percentage decline in national suicides is the largest in at least four decades, although the number may change because death certificates are still outstanding.
The preliminary figures were released in a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said the suicide rate dropped below 45,000 last year.
Suicides have been steadily rising since the early 2000s, peaking in 2018 at the highest level since 1941.
In 2019, the suicide rate dropped, and apparently the downward trend continued in 2020.
It comes amid the pandemic where Americans have reportedly reported increased anxiety, drug use and depression.
Gun sales also rose 85% with the start of the March 2020 pandemic.
One medical expert suggested that the decline could be linked to a phenomenon seen in the early stages of wars and national disasters.
“There is a heroic phase in every disaster period, where we work together and express many messages of support that we are together in this,” said Dr. Christine Moutier, medical director of the American Suicide Prevention Foundation, said.
“You saw it, at least in the early months of the pandemic.”
With Post threads