Context Report: Youth Suicide Statistics
"Suicide deaths among 10- to 24-year-olds increased by 62% from 2007 to 2021, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death in teens aged 15-19."
This claim is partially accurate according to CDC data, which shows suicide rates among Americans ages 10-24 increased from 6.8 to 11.0 per 100,000 during this period, but incorrectly states suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens aged 15-19 when it is actually the third. Additionally, recent data indicates a significant reversal with youth suicide rates declining 9-18% in 2022-2023, marking the first decrease in over a decade. The statistic reflects a genuine crisis but one occurring within a distinctive Anglo-sphere pattern where English-speaking nations experienced rising rates while most European countries saw steady rates or simultaneous declines.
Core Context
- The claim accurately reflects CDC data showing youth suicide deaths (ages 10-24) increased from 6.8 to 11.0 per 100,000 between 2007-2021, representing a 61.8% increase that rounds to 62% (CDC NCHS Data Brief 471)
- The claim incorrectly states suicide is the "second leading cause of death" for teens aged 15-19; according to 2022 CDC data, suicide is actually the third leading cause of death for this age group, after accidents and homicide, though it is second in other age groups (CDC NIMH, CDC FastStats)
- This increase occurred during a period when the US achieved the highest youth suicide rate globally among 52 countries analyzed by WHO, reaching 15.5/100,000 for males and representing a 3.8% annual increase (Lancet eClinicalMedicine)
- The US increase is part of a distinctive Anglo-sphere pattern, with English-speaking developed nations (US, UK, Canada, Australia) all experiencing rising youth suicide rates during 2007-2021, while most European countries saw simultaneous declines, suggesting shared cultural, policy, or English-language media factors beyond individual mental health treatment (The Atlantic)
- Youth suicide rates declined significantly for the first time in over a decade during 2022-2023, with 18% decreases for ages 10-14 and 9% for ages 15-24 (NPR)
- Profound racial disparities persist, with Black youth experiencing a 144% increase from 2007-2020—the fastest growth among all racial groups—while White youth increases were comparatively smaller (KFF)
- Contributing to increased mortality is the rise in firearm use among youth suicide attempts, with firearms being 22.5 times more lethal than other methods (~90% vs ~4% fatality rates) and youth firearm suicide rates increasing 57% over the past decade, particularly affecting Black youth who experienced a 183% increase (Everytown Research, Brady United)
Sources Table: Youth Suicide 62% Increase and Global Context
| Source | Description of position on issue | Link | Initial Usefulness Rating | Specificity of claims |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDC NCHS Data Brief 471 (2023) | Primary verification: Confirms exact 61.8% increase from 6.8 to 11.0 per 100,000 (ages 10-24, 2007-2021) with rigorous methodology and confidence intervals | CDC | 5 | High: exact rates, statistical methodology, age stratification |
| NPR Health Investigation (Nov 2023) | Recent reversal documentation: Reports first substantial decline in over 10 years—18% decrease ages 10-14, 9% decrease ages 15-24 in 2022, with expert analysis | NPR | 5 | High: specific percentages, expert interviews, policy correlation |
| American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (2025) | Most recent continuation: Documents 0.66% decrease for ages 15-24 in 2023, while overall population rates remained nearly flat | AFSP | 5 | High: most current available data, age-specific trends |
| Lancet eClinicalMedicine Global Study (2024) | International context: Establishes US as having highest youth suicide rate globally (15.5/100,000 males) with 3.8% annual increase, contrasted against European declines | Lancet | 5 | High: 52-country analysis, peer-reviewed, statistical rigor |
| KFF Demographic Analysis (Aug 2023) | Disparity documentation: Establishes that increases were fastest among people of color and rural areas, with Black youth experiencing 144% increase 2007-2020 | KFF | 4 | High: demographic stratification, longer timeframe analysis |
| NIMH Official Statistics (2024) | Ranking clarification: Provides precise leading cause rankings—suicide third for ages 15-24, second for ages 10-14 and 25-34 in 2022 | NIMH | 4 | High: official federal data, age-specific rankings |
| KFF 988 Hotline Two-Year Assessment (2024) | Policy intervention analysis: Documents 988 crisis line performance—10.8 million contacts, improved answer rates from 70% to 89%, reduced wait times | KFF 988 Report | 4 | High: performance metrics, implementation timeline |
| Washington Post MAHA Investigation (May 2025) | Source credibility analysis: Documents fabricated citations and AI-generated references in MAHA report, while noting this specific statistic's accuracy | Washington Post | 4 | High: investigative methodology, source verification |
International Comparison Sources
| Source | Description of Global Trends | Link | Rating | Specificity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHO Global Mortality Database Analysis (PMC 2024) | European decline documentation: Demonstrates most European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Nordic nations) show declining youth suicide 1990-2020, contrasting sharply with US increases | PMC WHO Analysis | 5 | High: longitudinal international trends, WHO official data |
| South Korea OECD Statistics (2024) | Extreme comparison baseline: Establishes South Korea's highest OECD rate at 25.2/100,000, with suicide as leading cause ages 10-24 since 2011 | Korea Stats | 4 | High: OECD comparative context, policy implications |
| Japan Ministry Crisis Report (2025) | Regional Asian trends: Documents record 529 student suicides in 2024, demonstrating continued increases across East Asian developed nations | Japan Crisis | 4 | High: official government data, regional pattern identification |
| Canada OECD International Comparison | Anglo-sphere pattern confirmation: Positions Canada with 2nd highest OECD youth male suicide rate (17/100,000), reinforcing US/UK/Australia pattern | Canada International | 4 | High: OECD standardized comparison, cultural pattern analysis |
Policy and Prevention Context
| Source | Policy/Prevention Analysis | Link | Rating | Specificity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Journal of Psychiatry Consensus Review (2020) | Scientific consensus establishment: Systematic review establishing multifactorial causation, explicitly rejecting single-explanation theories for suicide trends | AJP Consensus | 5 | High: peer-reviewed methodology, expert consensus |
| CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey Trends (2024) | Broader mental health context: Documents slight improvements in youth mental health indicators 2021-2023, providing consistency with suicide rate decline trends | YRBS Trends | 4 | Medium: survey methodology, trend correlation analysis |
| Trevor Project Annual Survey (2024) | LGBTQ+ specific context: Documents that LGBTQ+ youth suicide consideration rates remain significantly elevated despite overall population improvements | Trevor Project | 3 | Medium: demographic specificity, ongoing disparity documentation |