According to preliminary data, suicides in the U.S. fell nearly 6% last year, despite concerns that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to an increase in death rates.
The rate of decline in national suicides is the largest in at least four decades, although the number may change as death certificates are still pending.
Preliminary figures were released in a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said suicides last year dropped from 45,000.
Suicides had steadily increased since the early 2000s, peaking in 2018 since 1941.
In 2019 suicide rates fell and, preliminarily, the downward trend appears to have continued in 2020.
This comes amid the pandemic where Americans, according to polls, have reported anxiety, drug use and depression.
Arms sales also soared 85% at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
A medical expert suggested that the decline could be related to a phenomenon seen in the early stages of national wars and disasters.
“There is a phase of heroism in all periods of disaster, in which we come together and express many messages of support because we are together,” said Dr. Christine Moutier, chief physician of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“You’ve seen it, at least during the first few months of the pandemic.”
With publishing cables