Suicide America

Suicides have been trending up for years, and they’re not stopping. (The Hill)

New CDC provisional data: In 2023, the U.S. recorded just over 49,300 suicide deaths, which is roughly equal to the record-high rate.

• From 2002 to 2022, the suicide rate for males was 3-4 times higher than that of females, with firearm-related suicides being the most common method for both genders.

• Suicide rates for men aged 75 and older were significantly higher than for any other male age group, highlighting a long-standing issue in men's mental health.

Related: A 2020 Commonwealth Fund report found the U.S. had lower life expectancy and higher suicide rates than its peer nations, despite spending more on health care.

Also related: In a new Wall Street Journal analysis, reporter Rachel Wolfe chronicles how young American men are trending in the opposite direction of their female counterparts — in school, career, social and romantic life.

Bubba’s Two Cents

I have two thoughts here —

1) By many metrics, society is better off than it’s ever been. But the troubling rise in suicide cuts against this narrative of linear progress and shows that’s there are nuances.

2) It seems like the issue of gender is becoming a growing source of friction in the discourse. We’ve already seen it somewhat with discussions about the male-female divide in politics. You can expect this to ramp up as social conditions continue to change.