The New York Times has published numerous articles on the rise of mental health symptoms being observed in the younger generations in the United States [1][2][7], as well as higher suicide death rates being reported [3][4]. Factors such as poverty, language barriers, and lack of bilingual mental health resources have been cited as a rise in Latino suicide deaths over the years, as well as heightened worry about behavioral healths concerns in the demographic [5][6]. Further factors to consider are the prejudice and discrimiation that members of the demographic may experience [8], as well as the need for culturally-tailored interventions to reduce suicide risk in the community [9]. Coming from a Hispanic background, I wish to observe how mental health distress may be affecting the Hispanic & Latino groups within the U.S. by analyzing data on the suicide death rate in these communities. Data is collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of Minority Health (OMH). Visualizations of suicide trends within the different demographics, genders, and age brackets are constructed. Patterns in observed trends are noted and commented on, with a focus on any connections between any of the unique groupings.
Death rates for suicide, by sex, race, Hispanic origin, and age: United States (CDC)
Mental & Behavioral Statistics via OMH (Office of Minority Health)
Underlying Cause of Death, 2018-2021, Single Race (CDC Wonder)
Provisional Mortality Statistics, 2018 through Last Week (CDC Wonder)
Age-Adjusted vs. Crude Data
Understanding Death Data (CDC)
A Look at the Latest Suicide Data and Change Over the Last Decade
Life Expectancy Increases, However Suicides Up in 2022
Observed a higher rate of suicide deaths in the male Hispanic & Latino community when compared to the female population. A higher rate of suicide deaths is present in people younger than 65 within the female population as of 2018, while men see an increasing rate of comparable magnitude across all age brackets except at 65 years or above at which the rate has plateaued. Rates of suicide deaths seeminly experienced a slump from approximately 2000 to 2010, before seeing an increase. For further insight, would be useful to obtain data to compare rates between different sexual orientations to note if any trends lie within those groupings.
Data for 2022 and 2023 is provisional and extracted from CDC Wonder. Provisional data is subject to change until the data are reconciled and verified with the state and territorial data providers. Once data is fully validated, will recompile data and visuals for a full comparison.
Will visualize and compare these trends to comparable ones for different races (White, Black or African American, Asian or Pacific Islanders, American Indian or Alaskan Native), which are pre-defined by the CDC.
- Richtel, M. (2024, January 29). Teen drug and alcohol use linked to mental health distress. The New York Times.
- Richtel, M. (2022, April 23).'It's Life or Death': The Mental Health Crisis Among U.S Teens. The New York Times.
- Caron, C. (2023, August 11). U.S. Suicide Deaths Rose in 2022, C.D.C. Estimates Say. The New York Times.
- Barry, E. (2023, July 11). Following a Two-Year Decline, Suicide Rates Rose Again in 2021. The New York Times.
- Rising Latino suicide rates worry community leaders. (2024, January 17). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/rising-latino-suicide-rates-worry-community-leaders-rcna134363
- https://www.samhsa.gov/behavioral-health-equity/hispanic-latino
- Price, J. H., & Khubchandani, J. (2022). Hispanic Child Suicides in the United States, 2010-2019. Journal of community health, 47(2), 311–315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-01054-4
- Silva, C., & Van Orden, K. A. (2018). Suicide among Hispanics in the United States. Current Opinion in Psychology, 22, 44–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.07.013
- Khubchandani, J., & Price, J. H. (2022). Suicides among Non-Elderly Adult Hispanics, 2010–2020. Journal of Community Health, 47(6), 966–973. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-022-01123-2