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National trends in non-fatal suicidal behaviors among adults in the USA from 2009 to 2017

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 August 2020

Lindsay A. Bornheimer*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Kaipeng Wang
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
Anao Zhang
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Juliann Li
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Elise E. Trim
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Mark Ilgen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Cheryl A. King
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Lindsay A. Bornheimer, E-mail: bornheim@umich.edu

Abstract

Background

The age-adjusted rate of suicide death in the USA has increased significantly since 2000 and little is known about national trends in non-fatal suicidal behaviors (ideation, plan, and attempt) among adults and their associated sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. This study examined trends in non-fatal suicidal behaviors among adults in the USA.

Methods

Data were obtained from adults 18–65 years of age who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), including mental health assessment, from 2009 to 2017 (n = 335 359). Examinations of data involved trend analysis methods with the use of logistic regressions and interaction terms.

Results

Suicidal ideation showed fluctuation from 2009 to 2017, whereas suicide plan and attempt showed significantly positive linear trends with the odds increasing by an average of 3% and 4%, respectively. Suicide plan increased the most for females and adults ages 18–34, and attempt increased the most for adults with drug dependence. Both plan and attempt increased the most among adults who either had mental illness but were not in treatment or had no mental illness.

Conclusions

Given attempted suicide is the strongest known risk factor for suicide death, reducing non-fatal suicidal behaviors including attempt are important public health and clinical goals. The interactional findings of age, sex, mental health status, and drug dependence point toward the importance of tailoring prevention efforts to various sociodemographic and clinical factors.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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