Over 50 Public Health Advocacy Organizations Support Robust Investment in CDC Suicide Prevention

(November 1, 2024 – Washington, DC)  – According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of suicides increased in 2022 to historic peak levels—over 49,000 deaths—after slight declines in 2019 and 2020. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 10-14 and 25-34, and suicide rates increased by 36 percent between 2000 and 2021. The complex nature of suicide requires a comprehensive approach to prevention that focuses on disproportionately affected populations, uses data to understand risk factors associated with suicide in these groups, and applies the best available evidence to decrease risk and increase protective factors.

In a recent letter to key Congressional leaders, TFAH and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) led more than 50 public health advocacy organizations in urging increased investment in these approaches through the CDC Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program (CSP). Established in 2020, the CSP currently funds 24 initiatives nationwide through cooperative agreements designed to implement and evaluate a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention, with a special focus on populations that are disproportionately affected by suicide. These CSP initiatives have led to significant benefits, including decreases in suicide rates and increased training, awareness, and data collection. For example, the veteran and servicemember population that CSP initiatives served saw a 6.5% reduction in suicide rates from 2019-2021.

As the letter explains, “[b]y promoting mental health awareness, encouraging early intervention, and supporting individuals in crisis, the CSP plays a pivotal role in addressing one of the most serious public health challenges of our time.” TFAH and AFSP urge Congressional leaders to provide robust funding for the CSP to save lives and foster hope for Americans in crisis.