New figures from the United States’ leading public health body have revealed a troubling rise in suicide rates among girls and young women over nearly two decades, even as rates among males moved in the opposite direction.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the data covering the period between 1994 and 2012, focusing on individuals aged between 10 and 24. The report found that suicide rates among females in that age group rose from 2.7 to 3.2 per 100,000 during that period, with suffocation recorded as the most commonly used method.
While the female figures represent a statistically significant increase, rates among boys and young men remain considerably higher in absolute terms. Male suicide rates actually fell during the same period, dropping from 15.7 to 11.9 per 100,000 — a notable decline, though still far above the female figures.
Among high school students specifically, the CDC found that approximately 17 percent reported having seriously considered suicide, while eight percent said they had attempted to take their own life at least once in the previous year.
Researchers acknowledged that the data alone cannot explain the upward trend among young women. The lead author of the report said key questions remain unanswered, including whether social media, conventional media coverage or access to certain methods may be contributing factors.
Those working in suicide prevention have suggested that difficult economic conditions in the United States may also be playing a role, with job losses and financial pressures adding to the life stressors faced by young people and their families.
The findings are expected to inform future prevention strategies, though experts say further research will be needed before the causes behind the female trend can be fully understood.
