Health
Suicide Rate


Suicide Rate

What does this measure?

Deaths due to suicide, expressed as a rate per 10,000 residents.

Why is this important?

In addition to ending a life tragically, suicide profoundly affects the lives of surviving relatives and friends. While over 40,000 people die from suicide in the U.S. each year, it can often be prevented through education, mental health services, and public awareness.

How is our county doing?

In 2020, Essex County had a suicide rate of 0.7 deaths per 10,000 residents, similar to 2000. That reflects an increase in the number of suicides from 53 to 62. The rate in Essex was similar to the state rate and lower than the national rate of 1.4 per 10,000 residents in 2020.

How do we compare to similar counties?

All comparison areas had increases in their suicide rates since 2000 and by 2020 all were at similar levels but below the national level. Essex County had the smallest increase (1%) since 2000, while Westchester, NY had the greatest increase, more than doubling, followed by Middlesex at 68% and Lake, IL at 56%.

Notes about the data

County rates are sometimes based on small numbers of events in each year, and therefore can fluctuate greatly. Data for this indicator are released annually in May.

Suicide Rate
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Essex County, MA0.70.60.60.80.70.90.70.80.60.71.00.80.70.80.80.80.91.20.90.90.7
Middlesex County, MA0.40.60.60.60.50.70.60.60.70.60.80.80.80.70.70.80.90.90.80.70.7
Lake County, IL0.70.70.60.90.80.80.90.81.10.91.01.11.00.90.90.91.01.00.90.91.0
Westchester County, NY0.30.60.50.40.40.40.50.50.60.60.80.60.80.60.70.60.70.70.70.60.8
Massachusetts0.60.70.70.70.60.70.70.80.80.80.90.80.90.80.80.90.91.01.00.90.8
United States1.01.11.11.11.11.11.11.11.21.21.21.21.31.31.31.31.41.41.41.41.4

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Notes: Rate per 10,000 residents. Numbers are age-adjusted.




Suicides
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Essex County, MA534145585367556050577561546668627293757562
Middlesex County, MA6697968575107939310396125123131116120138156161152127126
Lake County, IL414641595150615175636773686670667271676769
Westchester County, NY285545363739505161617562816968616976766279
Massachusetts387426436433425480450516509530598585604572596642631682740647618
United States29,35030,62231,65531,48432,43932,63733,30034,59836,03536,90938,36439,51840,60041,14942,82644,19344,96547,17348,34447,51145,979

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention




INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable