This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

According to data reported by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. suicide rates have reached an all-time high.

According to the latest data, ā€œapproximately 49,500 people died by suicide in 2022.″ That’s an increase of 2.6% over the past year and is the highest number to date. The largest increases were seen in older adults — an 8% increase among people 65 and older. Men, especially, are at risk.

ā€œTraditionally, men have been less likely to seek support for mental health issues. This is probably for a number of reasons, including stigma and the traditional ā€˜strong male’ stereotype still prevalent in our society – the idea that expressing emotion is a sign of weakness,ā€ explained Dr. Natasha Bijlani, a consultant psychiatrist at Priory Hospital Roehampton.

Suicide is a leading cause of death for children and teens. In 2021 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on the shocking number of child suicides, noting that ā€deaths by suicide among young Georgians more than doubled between 2010 and 2020.ā€

It can be challenging wanting to help someone seek help for thoughts surrounding suicide, but there are tools that can make seeking help easier. Recently, a group of men created a mental health app aimed to help other men called Mental.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Sure it's only mid-July, but Escape the Netherworld is hosting five themed escape rooms, including one called Haunted that challenges players to defeat the Night Hag. (Courtesy of Escape the Netherworld)

Credit: Courtesy of Escape the Netherworld

Featured

ā€œOur members cannot be bought off,ā€ General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers ā€œillegal and haphazard.ā€ (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC