Suicides in the US fell by almost 6% last year, according to preliminary data, despite concerns that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to an increase in deaths.
The percentage decline in national suicides is the largest in at least four decades, although the number may change as death certificates are still remarkable.
Preliminary figures were published in a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said suicides fell below 45,000 last year.
Suicides have risen steadily since the early 2000s, peaking in 2018 at the highest level since 1941.
In 2019, suicide rates have dropped and, preliminary, the downward trend appears to have continued in 2020.
This is happening against the background of the pandemic in which Americans, according to surveys, reported increased anxiety, drug use and depression.
Also, arms sales increased by 85% at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
A medical expert suggested that the decline could be linked to a phenomenon observed in the early stages of national wars and disasters.
“There is a phase of heroism in every period of disaster, in which we come together and express a lot of messages of support that we are together in this,” said Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“You saw that, at least in the first months of the pandemic.”
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