Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents, but rates have decreased after peaking in 2018, according to survey data published Feb. 6 by KFF.
KFF reported on data from the Teen National Health Interview Survey, which was conducted for an 18-month period from 2021 to 2022 among adolescents ages 12-17.
The adolescent suicide death rate decreased by 8% between 2021 and 2022. The rate hit its peak in 2018 with 1,750 deaths attributed to suicide, which dipped to 1,540 in 2022. However, the total population death by suicide rate slightly increased between 2021 and 2022.
Meanwhile, the rate of suicide deaths is increasing faster among youth of color compared to white youth. Although white adolescents have the second-highest suicide rate — behind American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents — Black, Asian and Hispanic adolescents saw bigger increases in these death rates at 129%, 48% and 30%, respectively between 2012 and 2022.