I Don’t Wanna Be: Suicide Rates Are Rising among Young Black Men
February 24, 2023
Overall suicide rates among Black people are lower than among White people in the U.S., but recent data reveal a more complex picture. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the suicide rate among Black youth has “risen faster than in any other racial/ethnic group in the past two decades, with suicide rates in Black males 10 to 19 years old increasing by 60%. Early adolescent Black youth are twice as likely to die by suicide as compared to their white counterparts.” Further complicating this story, suicide deaths among Black people may be undercounted because these deaths are often misidentified and recorded as drug overdoses. Black Americans are also less likely to have access to mental health care than the general population. When a friend or family member dies by suicide, people often feel helpless, but there are many ways to take positive action. Reach out and check on the people in your community, particularly young men. If someone tells you that they are thinking about suicide, refer them to resources that can provide hope and help.
Spark Extra! Find data on suicide among Black populations.