National Suicide Statistics at a Glance

Trends in Suicide Rates* Among Females Ages 45–64 Years, by Mechanism, United States, 1991–2009

Suffocation suicide rates among females aged 45 to 64 years increased 51.9% from 0.79 suicides per 100,000 in 1991 to 1.1 suicides per 100,000 in 2009. Firearm suicide rates in females aged 45 to 64 years decreased from 1993 through 2000, when they began to rise again. From 2005 to 2009 the firearm rate rose 15.2% from 2.29 to 2.64. Poisoning suicide rates decreased 23.6% from 1991 through 1995 and then increased 61.8% from 1995-2009. Suicide rates by other mechanisms remained fairly steady from 1991 through 2005. Between 2005 and 2009, the rate rose 31.3% from .64 to .84 suicides per 100,000.

Footnote: *All rates are age specific. Rates based on less than 20 deaths are statistically unreliable.

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