Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Are the majority of US suicides committed by men?
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
By Ellie Pepperell
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YES
In 2018, men died by suicide 3.56 times more often than women, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The rate is highest among middle-aged white men, and white males alone accounted for nearly 70% of all suicide deaths that year.
Suicide rates have been increasing over the past 20 years, more so for women than men. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S suicide rate increased by 35% between 1999 and 2018. In terms of age-adjusted rates by sex, the suicide rate increased 55% among women and 28% among men.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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