CDC: Suicide Rates Up Among Middle Aged Americans

Biggest rise in 50+ age group, suffocations up 81 percent

Suicide rates among Americans 35 to 64 years old rose 28% from 1999 to 2010, from 13.7 per 100,000 people to 17.6 per 100,000 people, the CDC reported Thursday. 

The greatest increases occurred in people 50 to 54 years old (up 48%) and among people 55 to 59 years old (up 49%). Among men, suicides in middle-aged people rose 27.3%; among women, 31.5%. Whites and Native Americans had steeper increases than other demographic groups.  Rates increased in all states, whether they had relatively high, average or low suicide rates.