Young adult suicide rates are rising almost nationwide
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The young adult suicide rate increased in most U.S. states from 2014 to 2024, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: The numbers underscore the toll of the country's mental health crisis, which rages on even as the Trump administration cuts funding for programs designed to help vulnerable groups, like LGBTQ+ kids.
Driving the news: The suicide rate for U.S. adults aged 18-27 increased nearly 20% between 2014 and 2024, rising from 13.8 per 100,000 people to 16.4, per a new analysis of CDC data from Stateline, a nonprofit newsroom.
- That came as Gen Zers entered that age range and millennials left it, and was driven largely by Black and Hispanic men, especially in the South and Midwest.
By the numbers: The young adult suicide rate increased the most in Georgia (+65%), North Carolina (+41%), Texas (+41%), Alabama (+39%) and Ohio (+37%).
- The rate decreased in a few states, including North Dakota (-39%), Vermont (-37%) and Delaware (-34%).
What they're saying: "Theories behind the increase range from bullying on social media, since Gen Z was the first generation to grow up with the internet, to economic despair, to cultural resistance to seeking help for depression," per Stateline.
Go deeper: Firearms are now involved in most youth suicides, per a separate report from anti-gun violence group Everytown based on data through 2023.
What's next: Many states have mental health programs, but some use federal money that's drying up or at risk of disappearing under the Trump administration's broader spending cuts.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Ayuda disponible en español.
