Ethnic Suicide Rates In The United States

According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide remains a significant public health crisis in the United States.

In 2023, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death overall, claiming the lives of over 49,300 people.

Suicide rates vary significantly by race and ethnicity. Here’s the breakdown of suicide rates in 2023 (per 100,000 individuals):

• American Indians/Alaska Natives: 23.8
• White/Caucasian: 17.6
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders: 17.3
• Black/African Americans: 7.8
• Hispanic/Latino: 7.5
• Asian Americans: 6.5

American Indians and Alaska Natives continue to have the highest suicide rates among all ethnic groups.

However, recent trends show concerning shifts: between 2018 and 2023, suicide rates increased significantly among Black/African American persons (rising across all age groups) and Hispanic/Latino persons, while rates decreased among White persons.

This represents a reversal of historical patterns, with communities of color experiencing sharper increases.

Among Black Americans specifically, suicide rates increased by approximately 20% between 2018 and 2021, with particularly alarming increases among Black youth.

For American Indian and Alaska Native communities, rates increased by 26% during the same period, though there has been a slight decline from 2021 to 2023.

The CDC reports that males die by suicide at approximately four times the rate of females across all ethnic groups.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

In July 2022, the United States launched the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a simplified three-digit number that replaced the previous ten-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

This transition was designed to make crisis support more accessible and easier to remember, similar to 911 for emergency services.

Since its launch, 988 has received over 13 million calls, texts, and chats from people in crisis across the United States. The service provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

How to Access 988

• Call: Dial 988 from any phone
• Text: Text 988 for text-based support
• Chat: Visit 988lifeline.org for online chat
• ASL: Videophone services are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Specialized Services

• Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255
• Spanish-language support is available by selecting the Spanish option when calling or texting AYUDA to 988
• LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults (ages 13-24) can select option 3 for specialized, affirming support
• Interpretation services are available in over 240 languages

The Connection Between Suicide And Substance Abuse

There is a strong correlation between substance abuse and suicide across all races and ethnicities. Persons with substance use disorders have a heightened risk of suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide) and attempted suicide. The CDC reports that drug and alcohol abuse falls second only to depression and other mood disorders as a risk factor for suicide.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), suicide is the leading cause of death for individuals with a substance use disorder. Individuals facing a co-occurring disorder experience this risk at even higher rates.

American Indians and Alaska Natives, the ethnic group which had the highest rates of suicide, have some of the greatest numbers of substance use and mental health disorders when compared to other US racial or ethnic groups, as detailed by SAMHSA. This could partly explain why suicide rates run so high for these individuals.

Certain forms of drug abuse carry a greater likelihood of suicide when compared to the general population:

• Individuals who are injection drug users have roughly a 14 times higher risk for eventual suicide
• Individuals treated for an alcohol use disorder have roughly a 10 times higher risk of eventual death by suicide
• Individuals who misused prescription opioids had a 40% to 60% increased risk of suicidal ideation
• Individuals who misused opioids on a weekly basis “were about 75% more likely to make plans for suicide and made suicide attempts at a rate 200% greater than those unaffected” according to NIDA

Because of this, addiction treatment facilities must provide researched-based compassionate services to at-risk individuals.

Addiction Treatment Providers Must Be Aware Of Suicide Risk

SAMHSA cautions that individuals receiving treatment for a substance use disorder are “at especially high risk of suicidal behavior.”

This is because they:

• enroll in treatment when their drug abuse is out of control which increases numerous risk factors for suicide.
• enroll in treatment at a point in time when they are experiencing multiple and severe life crises, including those regarding their job, marriage, or legal problems.
• enroll in treatment when depressive symptoms are at their peak.
• experience higher suicide risks at times of crisis, including relapse or transitions in treatment.
• have a mental health problem which is linked to suicidal tendencies, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or certain personality disorders.

Treatment practitioners must be aware of and monitor for these risks on a continuous basis.

The following life experiences are considered long-term risk factors for suicide:

• child sexual abuse
• depression
• marital problems
• repeated instances of relapse

A thorough assessment of a person’s life should identify these circumstances as potential risk factors for continued substance abuse and suicide.

Comprehensive treatment should address these issues, even if suicide isn’t a documentable concern. Individuals with a history of suicidal ideation or attempted suicide should undergo monitoring and evaluation on a regular basis.

Individuals contending with a co-occurring disorder should receive appropriate care and medications when needed to treat their mental health disorder.

Dual Diagnosis Care For Individuals With A Co-Occurring Disorder

Since mental health disorders frequently accompany addiction, in addition to being risk factors for suicide, it’s of utmost importance that individuals with co-occurring disorders receive comprehensive dual diagnosis care.

This care should include a thorough evaluation and assessment of a person’s mental and emotional health, including a discussion about the possibility of any suicidal thoughts, either in the past or currently.

A combination of counseling and behavioral therapies are effective treatments for both mental health and substance use disorders and have shown benefits in reducing suicidal ideation and attempts. These treatments may be delivered in an individual, group, or family setting, with an aim at healing individuals on all levels which may aggravate mental health and substance use disorders.

Many mental illnesses require medications. Selecting an evidenced-based dual diagnosis treatment program works to ensure that a person receives thorough, medically-informed care.

Prevention And Treatment

Addiction treatment should be culturally and racially sensitive. The most comprehensive programs address all needs which could influence the scope of a person’s substance abuse care. Any mental health disorders which complicate a person’s treatment needs should be addressed through research-based behavioral therapies and medications as needed.

Because of this, inpatient drug rehabilitation programs are often the most optimal form of treatment. Treating mental illness and addiction takes time and access to a comprehensive array of treatments, options which are made more extensively available in a residential program.