SUICIDALITY AND DEATH BY SUICIDE AMONG

MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES

AUTHORS

Kathryn Downey Piscopo, Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION

Suicide is a national public health concern. According to the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services (HHS) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), suicide was the 10th

leading cause of death in the United States in 2013.1 Recent research indicates that suicide

is at a 30-year high.2 In addition, other reports conclude that the suicide rate is rising sharply

for males aged 45 to 64 (from 20.8 to 29.7 deaths per 100,000 between 1999 and 2014) and

females aged 45 to 64 had the second-largest percentage increase in suicide deaths (from

6.0 to 9.8 deaths per 100,000 between 1999 and 2014) among all age groups by gender. 3,4 

To present a complete picture of suicidal behavior and outcomes, this issue of The CBHSQ

Report uses data from two federal sources: the National Survey on Drug Use and Health

(NSDUH) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

and the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) Mortality data file from NCHS. This report

focuses on adults aged 45 to 64 because of the increase in the suicide death rate for this

age group. 

The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) within SAMHSA collects,

analyzes, and disseminates NSDUH data on mental health and substance use. NSDUH is a

nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized

population aged 12 or older. In 2009 to 2014, the number of completed interviews was

410,000, with 280,100 of those completed interviews from people aged 18 or older. NSDUH

respondents aged 18 or older were asked if at any time during the past 12 months they had

thought seriously about trying to kill themselves. Those who had serious thoughts of suicide

were then asked whether they made a plan to kill themselves or tried to kill themselves in

the past 12 months.

NCHS maintains the NVSS Mortality data file, which includes state-level information about the demographics of all deaths in the nation and the

causes of the deaths based on death certificates filed in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Mortality data file contains information

related to "intentional self-harm (suicide)," which is defined as International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes *U03,

X60–X84 and Y87.0 as the underlying cause of death.5

● The 2009 to 2014 National Survey on Drug Use

and Health (NSDUH) data indicate that middleaged adults (45- to 64-year olds) had significantly

lower percentages of suicidal thoughts and

attempts (3.5 and 0.3 percent, respectively)

compared with 18 to 25 year olds, which had the

highest rate of suicidal thoughts and attempts (6.9

and 1.2 percent, respectively).

● According to NSDUH data, the annual average

percentage of middle-aged adults who had serious

thoughts of suicide ranged from 3.3 percent in

2011 to 2012 to 3.5 percent in 2009 to 2010 and

3.6 percent in 2013 to 2014. The annual average

percentage of middle-aged adults who attempted

suicide were 0.3 percent in 2009 to 2010, 0.4

percent in 2011 to 2012 and 0.3 percent in 2013 to

2014.

● Data from the National Vital Statistics System

show that 45- to 64- year olds had the highest

increase in the death rate for suicide (13.2 to 19.5

deaths per 100,000) between 1999 and 2014

among all age groups.

In Brief

Short Report September 27, 2017

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality
This report examines NSDUH and NVSS mortality data using the same time frame (2009 to 2014) as a recent NCHS publication (NCHS's Data

Brief No. 241).4 To improve statistical power for trend analysis, 2-year annual averages were used for both data files. The NVSS data were

analyzed using the online Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS).

All NSDUH estimates (e.g., percentages, numbers) presented in this report are subject to sampling errors. NSDUH estimates that do not meet

criteria for reliability have been suppressed and are not shown.6 NVSS data do not have associated sampling errors because the data come from

a census and are not from a random sample.

Trend analyses in this report focus on percentages because the percentages take into account any changes in the size of the total population

and facilitate the comparison of estimates across years.7 Statistical tests also have been conducted for comparisons that appear in the text of

this report. Statistically significant differences are described using terms such as "higher," "lower," "increased," or "decreased." Statements use

terms such as "similar," "remained steady," or "stable" when a difference is not statistically significant. Statistical tests, though, were not

performed comparing NSDUH estimates with NVSS rates. Also, suicide death rates for 1999 versus 2014 were not tested; the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention tested only time differences for separate genders. Supporting NSDUH (including standard errors) and NVSS tables are

included at the end of this report (Tables S1–S12).8

SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

Age Group Comparisons

The combined 2009 to 2014 NSDUH data indicate that young adults aged 18 to 25 are at highest risk for suicidal thoughts. As Figure 1 shows,

those aged 18 to 25 had a higher percentage of suicidal thoughts (6.9 percent) than other age groups (ranging from 4.6 to 1.6 percent). Overall,

3.5 percent of middle-aged adults had suicidal thoughts in the past year, ranging from 2.5 percent among those aged 60 to 64 to 4.2 percent

among those aged 45 to 49. This pattern persisted for males and females.

When the analyses were conducted by gender, young adults aged 18 to 25 had the highest percentages of suicidal thoughts compared with

other age groups by gender (Figures 2 and 3).
Figure 1. Suicidal thoughts in the past year among adults aged 18 or older,

by age group: annual averages, combined 2009 to 2014

* Estimate for young adults aged 18 to 25 is significantly higher than estimates for all

other age groups at the .05 level.

** Estimate for adults aged 26 to 29 is significantly higher than estimates for all other

age groups at the .05 level, except young adults aged 18 to 25 and adults aged 45 to

49.

*** Estimates for adults aged 60 to 64 and adults aged 65 or older are significantly

lower than estimates for all other age groups at the .05 level.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Figure 2. Suicidal thoughts in the past year among males aged 18 or older,

by age group: annual averages, combined 2009 to 2014

* Estimates for males aged 18 to 25 are significantly higher than estimates for all other

age groups at the .05 level.

** Estimate for males aged 65 or older is significantly lower than estimates for all other

age groups at the .05 level.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Figure 3. Suicidal thoughts in the past year among females aged 18 or older,

by age group: annual averages, combined 2009 to 2014

* Estimates for females aged 18 to 25 are significantly higher than estimates for all

other age groups at the .05 level.

*** Estimate for females aged 65 or older is significantly lower than estimates for all

other age groups at the .05 level, except females aged 60 to 64.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Trends

When examined over time, there does not appear to be an increase in suicidal thoughts among adults aged 45 to 64; the trend ranged from 3.3

to 3.6 percent (Figure 4). The percentage of males aged 45 to 64 who had suicidal thoughts remained stable at 3.5 percent in 2009 to 2010, 3.1

percent in 2011 to 2012 and 3.9 percent in 2013 to 2014. Females aged 45 to 64 also had a stable percentage of suicidal thoughts at 3.6

percent in 2009 to 2010, 3.5 percent in 2011 to 2012 and 3.3 percent in 2013 to 2014. 

 

Figure 4. Trends in suicidal thoughts in the past year among adults aged 45

to 64, by gender: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, and 2013 to

2014

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT

Age Group Comparisons

The annual average percentage of nonfatal suicide attempts for young adults from 2009 to 2014 was 1.2 percent and was higher

than percentages of other age groups (which ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 percent; Figure 5). Therefore, young adults aged 18 to 25 are likely at most

risk for suicide attempt, although people aged 45 to 64 are more likely to die from a suicide attempt.4 There was no gender difference in

percentages of attempts for middle-aged adults.

 

Figure 5. Suicide attempt in the past year, by age group: annual averages,

2009 to 2014

* Estimate for young adults aged 18 to 25 is significantly higher than estimates for all

other age groups at the .05 level.

** Estimate for adults aged 60 to 64 is significantly lower than estimates for all other

age groups at the .05 level, except adults aged 50 to 54, 55 to 59, and 65 or older.

*** Estimate for adults aged 65 or older is significantly lower than estimates for all

other age groups at the .05 level, except adults aged 50 to 54 and 60 to 64.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Trends

For the 45 to 64 age groups, there was no significant increase in suicide attempt over time across the 2-year groupings: 0.3 percent for 2009 to

2010, 0.4 percent for 2011 to 2012, and 0.3 percent for 2013 to 2014 (Figure 6). Additionally, the data on suicide attempt by males and females

aged 45 to 64 showed no significant differences over time in the past 6 years. For males aged 45 to 64, the percentage attempting suicide in the

past year remained stable at 0.4 percent in 2009 to 2010, 0.3 percent in 2011 to 2012 and 0.3 percent in 2013 to 2014. The percentage of

females aged 45 to 64 attempting suicide in the past year was also stable at 0.3 percent annual average in 2009 to 2010 and 0.4 percent annual

average in both 2011 to 2012 and 2013 to 2014. 

 

Figure 6. Trends in suicide attempt in the past year among adults aged 45 to

64, by gender: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, and 2013 to

2014

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
DEATHS BY SUICIDE

Age Group Comparisons for 1999 and 2014

According to NVSS data, the suicide rate for 1999 ranged from 1.2 deaths per 100,000 for 10- to 14-year-olds to 18.4 per 100,000 for adults

aged 75 or older (Figure 7). For 2014, the suicide rate ranged from 2.1 deaths per 100,000 for 10- to 14-year-olds to 19.5 per 100,000 for adults

aged 45 to 64. The largest increase between 1999 and 2014 suicide rates was 6.3 percentage points (or a 48 percent increase) for 45- to 64-

year-olds; other groups had only 0.3 to 2.2 percentage point differences over time.9

Figure 7. Trends in suicide rate, by age group: United States, 1999 and 2014

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Rates are not age adjusted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did

not test for statistical differences.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1999 and 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html

 

Males in the 45 to 64 and 75 or older age groups had significantly higher suicide death rates than males in the other age groups (but the age

group of males 45 to 64 and 75 or older were not significantly different from each other; Figure 8). However, NCHS noted that the "largest

percent increase (43 percent) in rates" between 1999 and 2014 was from the 45- to 64-year-old male age group.4 For females in 2014, the fatal

suicide rate was higher for those aged 45 to 64 than for other age groups (Figure 9).
Figure 8. Trends in suicide rates among males, by age group: United States,

1999 and 2014

* Rates for youths aged 10 to 14 are significantly lower than rates for all other age

groups at the .05 level.

** Rates for adults aged 45 to 64 is significantly higher than rates for all other age

groups at the .05 level, except adults aged 75 or older.

*** Rates for adults aged 75 or older are significantly higher than rates for all other age

groups at the .05 level.

Note: For all age groups, the difference in rates between 1999 and 2014 is significant

at the .05 level.

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1999 and 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html
Figure 9. Trends in suicide rates among females, by age group: United

States, 1999 and 2014

* Rates for adults aged 45 to 64 are significantly higher than rates for all other age

groups at the .05 level.

Note: For all age groups, the difference in rates between 1999 and 2014 is significant

at the .05 level.

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1999 and 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html
Two-Year Trends

Analyses were also performed for combined data from 2 years at three times (as done for the NSDUH data previously discussed): 2009 to 2010,

2011 to 2012, and 2013 to 2014. Figures 10 and 11 show the 2-year NVSS data10 for 2009 to 2014. For males aged 45 to 64, the fatal suicide

rates were 28.6 in 2009 to 2010, 29.2 in 2011 to 2012 and 29.4 in 2013 to 2014. Females showed the same trend in fatal suicide rates: 8.5 in

2009 to 2010, 9.0 in 2011 to 2012 and 9.6 in 2013 to 2014.

 

Figure 10. Trends in suicide deaths among males aged 45 to 64, by age

group: 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, and 2013 to 2014

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2009 to 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html
Figure 11. Trends in suicide deaths among females aged 45 to 64, by age

group: 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, and 2013 to 2014

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2009 to 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html

DISCUSSION

Young adults aged 18 to 25 are at higher risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts than other age groups. However, adults aged 45 to 64 have

higher rates of death from suicides than other age groups. Additionally, the suicide rate (i.e., the death rate from suicide) has significantly

increased over the years for those aged 45 to 64, higher than any other age group. This increase is seen for both male and female adults aged

45 to 64. The percentage of adults aged 45 to 64 who had serious thoughts of suicide and attempted suicide remained stable from 2009 to 2014.

Additional research is needed to examine why there is this incongruity between risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts and death rates for

suicide among middle aged persons.

Research suggests that there are more attempted suicides than there are deaths from suicide.1,11 Out of every 31 adults who attempted suicide

in the past 12 months in the United States, there was 1 death by suicide.12 In addition, people are likely to have thought about suicide before

actually attempting suicide.

Deaths by suicide can be prevented; suicide awareness and interventions are keys to improving this public health issue. SAMHSA's efforts toward

suicide prevention can be found at http://www.samhsa.gov/suicide-prevention/, and information on the National Suicide Hotline is at

https://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. 
ENDNOTES

1. National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, October). Suicide and self-inflicted injury [Web page] Retrieved

from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm 

2. Tavernise, S. (2016, April 22). U.S. suicide rate surges to a 30-year high. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com

3. Leonard, K. (2016, April 22). Suicide rate triples among girls. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/

4. Curtin, S. C., Warner, M., & Hedegaard, H. (2016, April). Increase in suicide in the United States, 1999–2014 (NCHS Data Brief No. 241). Retrieved

from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db241.htm

5. More information about the NVSS can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr65/nvsr65_04.pdf.

6. For a discussion of the criteria for suppressing (i.e., not publishing) unreliable estimates, see Section B.2.2 in the following reference: Center for

Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2016). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Methodological summary and definitions. Retrieved

from http://samhsa.gov/data/ 

7. If the number of people in the population with a characteristic of interest has increased (e.g., the number of adults who had serious thoughts of suicide)

simply because the size of the overall population has increased, then the percentages will control for the increases in the number of people with the

characteristic of interest and in the total number of people in the population.

8. Items about suicidal thoughts and behavior among adults have missing data. Respondents with missing data on suicidal thoughts and behavior were

excluded from the relevant analyses. An investigation for the 2014 NSDUH indicated that less than 1 percent of all adult respondents had missing data

for estimates related to suicidal thoughts and behavior.

9. The WISQARS does not allow for significance testing among estimates; therefore, no tests were performed for statements about estimates combining

data for males and females.

10. For NVSS data, the number of deaths is the total for the 2-year span, and the crude rate is calculated based on the total number of deaths and the

population for the 2-year span.

11. Mościcki, E. K. (2001). Epidemiology of completed and attempted suicide: Toward a framework for prevention. Clinical Neuroscience Research, 1,

310–323.

12. This estimate is based on a 3.2 percent rate (95 percent confidence interval = 2.9 to 3.5 percent) as reported in Han, B., Kott, P. S., Hughes, A., McKeon,

R., Blanco, C., & Compton, W. M. (2016). Estimating the rates of deaths by suicide among adults who attempt suicide in the United States. Journal of

Psychiatric Research, 77, 125–133. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.03.002

SUGGESTED CITATION

Piscopo, K.D. Suicidality and Death by Suicide Among Middle-aged Adults in the United States. The CBHSQ Report: September 27, 2017. Center

for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.
Table S1. Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in the past year among

adults aged 18 or older, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages,

and standard errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for this group and for young adults aged 18 to 25 at p < .05.

1

 Respondents were asked, "At any time in the past 12 months, did you seriously think

about trying to kill yourself?" If they answered "Yes," they were categorized as having

serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.

Note: Respondents with unknown suicide information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.Note: Respondents with unknown

suicide information were excluded.
Table S2. Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in the past year among

males aged 18 or older, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages,

and standard errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for this group and for young adults aged 18 to 25 at p < .05.

1

 Respondents were asked, "At any time in the past 12 months, did you seriously think

about trying to kill yourself?" If they answered "Yes," they were categorized as having

serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.

Note: Respondents with unknown suicide information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S3. Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in the past year among

females aged 18 or older, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages,

and standard errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for this group and for young adults aged 18 to 25 at p < .05.

1

 Respondents were asked, "At any time in the past 12 months, did you seriously think

about trying to kill yourself?" If they answered "Yes," they were categorized as having

serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.

Note: Respondents with unknown suicide information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S4. Trends in suicidal thoughts in the past year among adults aged 45

to 64, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages, and standard

errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012,

and 2013 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2011 to 2012 at p < .05.

** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2011 to 2012 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

*** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

Note: Respondents were asked, "At any time in the past 12 months, did you seriously

think about trying to kill yourself?" If they answered "Yes," they were categorized as

having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Respondents with unknown suicide

information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S5. Trends in suicidal thoughts in the past year among males aged 45

to 64, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages, and standard

errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012,

and 2013 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2011 to 2012 at p < .05.

** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2011 to 2012 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

*** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

Note: Respondents were asked, "At any time in the past 12 months, did you seriously

think about trying to kill yourself?" If they answered "Yes," they were categorized as

having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Respondents with unknown suicide

information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S6. Trends in suicidal thoughts in the past year among females aged

45 to 64, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages, and standard

errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012,

and 2013 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2011 to 2012 at p < .05.

** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2011 to 2012 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

*** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

Note: Respondents were asked, "At any time in the past 12 months, did you seriously

think about trying to kill yourself?" If they answered "Yes," they were categorized as

having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Respondents with unknown suicide

information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S7. Trends in suicide attempts in the past year among adults aged 45

to 64, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages, and standard

errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012,

and 2013 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2011 to 2012 at p < .05.

** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2011 to 2012 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

*** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

Note: Respondents with unknown suicide information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S8. Trends in suicide attempts in the past year among males aged 45

to 64, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages, and standard

errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012,

and 2013 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2011 to 2012 at p < .05.

** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2011 to 2012 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

*** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

Note: Respondents with unknown suicide information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S9. Trends in suicide attempts in the past year among females aged 45

to 64, by age group: numbers in thousands, percentages, and standard

errors (SEs) of percentages: annual averages, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012,

and 2013 to 2014

* Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2011 to 2012 at p < .05.

** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2011 to 2012 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

*** Pairwise tests were performed, and significant differences were found between

estimates for 2009 to 2010 and for 2013 to 2014 at p < .05.

Note: Respondents with unknown suicide information were excluded.

Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys

on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2009 to 2014.
Table S10. Trends in suicide deaths and rates, by age group: number,

population, and crude rate: 1999 and 2014

* Estimate is significantly higher than estimates for all other age groups (p < .05).

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Rates are not age adjusted.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1999 and 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html
Table S11. Trends in suicide deaths among males aged 45 to 64, by age

group: number, population, and crude rate: 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, and

2013 to 2014

1

 Numbers in parentheses are age-adjusted rates for comparison. 

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Population estimates are aggregated for multi-year reports to produce rates.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2009 to 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html
Table S12. Trends in suicide deaths among females aged 45 to 64, by age

group: number, population, and crude rate: 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, and

2013 to 2014

1

 Numbers in parentheses are age-adjusted rates for comparison.

Note: ICD-10 codes: X60–X84, Y87.0, and *U03. Crude rate is deaths per 100,000.

Population estimates are aggregated for multi-year reports to produce rates.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System for

numbers of deaths. U.S. Census Bureau for population estimates. Produced by CDC,

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2009 to 2014. Retrieved from

http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html
SUMMARY

Background: Suicide is a public health problem. Method: Two federal data sources collect suicide information: the National Survey on Drug

Use and Health (NSDUH) and the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). This issue of The CBHSQ Report uses 2009 to 2014 NSDUH and NVSS

data to examine the trends in suicidal thoughts, attempts, and deaths for males and females aged 45 to 64. Results: Middle-aged adults have a

significantly lower percentage of suicidal thoughts and attempts compared to the 18 to 25 year olds, which is the age group with the highest

percentages of suicidal thoughts and attempts. In addition to relatively low rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts, the trend for middle-aged

suicidal thoughts and attempts has remained stable between 2009 and 2014 even though the death rates for suicide from the age group

increased from 1999 to 2014. Conclusion: Knowing the differences in risk among the age groups is important for suicide prevention because

young adults aged 18 to 25 have the highest rate of suicide attempts, but those aged 45 to 64 are more likely to have fatal suicide attempts.

Keywords: middle-aged adults, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, NSDUH, suicide 

AUTHOR INFORMATION

cbhsqrequest@samhsa.hhs.gov

KEYWORDS

Age Group, Gender, Short Report, Population Data, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, Media, Policymakers, Prevention Professionals, Professional Care

Providers, Public Health Professionals, Public Officials, Researchers, Suicide, Mature Adults as Population Group, Awareness, Prevention, Multi-Year Trend,

Non-SAMHSA Data Set, All US States Only, Risk & Protective Factors

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency

within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts

to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact

of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by

SAMHSA. The NSDUH data used in this report are based on information obtained from

280,100 people aged 18 or older in 2009 to 2014. NSDUH collects data by administering

questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face

interviews at their place of residence.

The CBHSQ Report is prepared by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality

(CBHSQ), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI

International is a registered trademark and a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.)

Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication:

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2016). Key substance use and mental

health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use

and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 16-4984, NSDUH Series H-51). Retrieved

from http://samhsa.gov/data/

Also available online at http://www.samhsa.gov/data/population-data-nsduh.

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is part of the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. NCHS maintains the Nation

Vital Statistics System (NVSS) Mortality data file, which includes state-level information

about the demographics of all deaths in the nation and the cause of the death based on

death certificates filed in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Mortality data file

contains information related to "intentional self-harm (suicide)," which is defined

in International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes *U03, X60–X84

and Y87.0 as the underlying cause of death.

More information about the NVSS data files can be found at

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/deaths.htm

Other substance abuse reports:

http://www.samhsa.gov/data