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 nearly 50,000 people die from suicide in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC, it can often be addressed and prevented through education, mental health services, and public awareness.

How is our county doing?

In 2024, Essex County had a suicide rate of 1.1 deaths per 10,000 residents, a notable increase from 2015 when it was 0.8. That reflects an increase in the number of suicides from 62 in 2015 to 87 in 2024. The rate in Essex was higher than the state rate of 0.8 and lower than the national rate of 1.4 per 10,000 residents in 2024.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County's rate was the same as Lake County, IL at 1.1 per 10,000 residents. Westchester County, NY and Middlesex, MA had lower rates at 0.6 and 0.8 respectively. Middlesex, MA was the only county to have a decline in its rate from 2015.

Notes about the data

County rates are sometimes based on small numbers of events in each year, and therefore can fluctuate greatly.