Washington DC -
A new study by the US government revealed that suicide rates have increased nationwide since 1999.
The figure was released on Sunday on suicides designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain makes this issue more and more audible.
But what triggered tsuicide rate increased continuously in America?
In 17 years, 30%
That's an increase in suicide in more than half of US states since 1999, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The overall national increase is about 25%.
This means that about 16 out of every 100,000 Americans will commit suicide.
Nearly 45,000 Americans commit suicide in 2016.
According to CDC data, suicide increases among all sexes, ages, races and ethnic groups.
Lead researcher Dr. Deborah Stone told the BBC that the agency had been tracking the rise for some time.
"Knowing that suicide rates are increasing, we want to see the levels and contributing factors," says Dr. Stone.
"There are 25 states that have increased by more than 30% - that's a new finding for us."
Almost all the states that are in the western and central region of US.
Why do suicide rates increase?
Although there is no single factor leading to suicide, Dr Stone says relationships and financial tends to be the major contributing factor to suicide across the country.
She also notes that some western states have the highest historical suicide rates, which can be attributed to the fact that their location is in rural areas.
Also read: American Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain died at 61, Allegedly of suicide
The rural states, she explained, still have not recovered from the economic downturn. People also tend to be more isolated, without access to proper care. And, these states are also hit hard by the opium epidemic.
Prof Julie Cerel, president of the American Association of Suicidology, notes that having a better reporting standard may account for some of the improvements, but also indicates a lack of adequate funding for mental health research and preventive care.
"Our mental health system is bad all over the country," says Prof Cerel. "In terms of training mental health professionals, we are not doing a great job."
By 2018, only 10 states mandate suicide prevention training for health professionals.
And Prof. Cerel poses another public health problem, though often overlooked - firearms.
"The weapons debate in the US has been about horrible school shootings, and we want to prevent it, but most of the deaths from guns are a result of suicide," she said.
In fact, two-thirds of the deaths associated with weapons in America are suicide, according to the CDC.
"We're not talking about it in the US because of the stigma mental health, people think that suicide is different - why they want to control weapons? No one in their family will do that."
Also read: Designer Kate Spade dead at 55 Suicide by Hanging with Scarf
Is there a connection between suicide and mental illness?
The CDC study found that 54% of Americans who die of suicide do not have known mental health ailments.
Dr Jerry Reed of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention says that while there is "a definite link between serious mental illness and suicidal behavior", experts have found suicide not just mental health related.
"Economic conditions or a declining livelihood opportunity can lead people to positions where they are at risk (suicide). We need to intervene both in mental and public health cases," said Dr. Reed.
Prof. Cerel also pointed out that many people who are diagnosed with mental illness have never committed suicide.
"It's not a simple thing 'they have mental problems, they commit suicide.'"
Dr Stone says the CDC study shows the loss of loved ones, drug abuse, physical health, work and legal issues are important factors.
"If we focus on just one thing, we will lose people who are potentially at risk," she said.
Also read: Kate Spade's death and the Importance of Mental Health
How to handle it?
Experts agree that teaching people to process loss and overcome severe emotions is essential in suicide prevention.
"We can not assume that everyone studies it with a magical formula," says Dr. Reed.
"We learn how to read, how to write, we also have to help people learn how to cope."
So how exactly does it cope from a mental health standpoint?
Prof. Cerel describes it as having a "safety plan".
"If there's something bad in your life, what are you doing? Are there things you can do to distract you right now? Can you see your kids' pictures or watch a funny cat video?"
"The funny cat video cannot keep a person alive, but they can calm people down and then use other strategies," she said.
Prof. Cerel also stressed that encouraging people to go to therapy and use mental health professionals to help "change dysfunctional thinking" is the ultimate goal.
For some people, "feeling connected and feeling as if they are important to others is very important," said Dr. Stone of the CDC.
"We must involve the whole community - not just the healthcare community," says Dr. Reed. "Our nation needs to recognize that isolation."
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