Suicides among young adults rise over past decade, with greater impact on Hispanic and black males

The rate of suicide among young adults aged 18 to 27 increased in most states across the country between 2014 and 2024. Most of the increase, 85%, was among black and Hispanic men, many of them in Southern and Midwestern states.

The numbers are part of a new analysis of CDC data by Stateline, a nonprofit newsroom. According to the study, the suicide rate for U.S. adults aged 18 to 27 increased by nearly 20% between 2014 and 2024, from 13.8 per 100,000 people to 16.4.

"Experts disagree on the root causes of the growth in suicides, but they see a wave of untreated depression that can lead to suicidal thoughts, one that affected all age groups after the Great Recession but lingers on among young adults, especially non-white men," the analysis explained.

In addition, the study indicated that Generation Z suicides have continued to occur at a high rate this year, with a total of 1,148 cases recorded in January and February, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This figure is similar to the same period in 2024. The CDC data are from death certificates.

An increase among Hispanics

Meanwhile, the analysis also detailed that suicide became the second leading cause of death among Hispanic youth, surpassing homicide, and the leading cause of death among Asian youth, surpassing accidents. Males have the highest rates, especially black and Hispanic males, who together account for 85% of the total increase in suicides: 822 of 965.

"Suicides increased among Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native young adults ... with Native people having the highest rate in both 2014 and 2024. The number of suicides dropped slightly for white people, but increased as a rate because population fell as Gen Z took over the age bracket from the more numerous millennial generation," the study highlighted.