US suicide rate is climbing steadily with highest prevalence in sparsely populated western states

The suicide rate in the United States has risen 1.5% a year since 1999, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If this rate of increase continues, by 2050 the US suicide rate would be more than double what it was at the beginning of the century.

The rise has been significant nationally and in 44 of 50 states. In 25 states, the suicide rate rose more than 30% between 1999 and 2016, the CDC reported in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.1

The period from 2001 to 2016 also saw a 42% increase in the rate of emergency department visits for non-fatal self harm, the CDC found.

There was great …