Suicide Rates Climbing

After the suicides of fashion designer Kate Spade and “Parts Unknown” host Anthony Bourdain this week, KWWR is taking a look at suicide rates in Missouri.

According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates in Missouri saw a 36.4 percent increase between 1999 and 2016.

The Missouri Department of Mental Health reports that white males between the ages of 45 and 59 saw the largest increase. The number jumped from 14.6 per 100 thousand people in 1999 to 25.54 in 2016.

Many of those who died never showed outward signs of mental illness.

Missouri is following a nationwide upward trend with all states, with the exception of Nevada, seeing a significant increase during that time period.

If you, or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention hotline is available 24 hours a day. The phone number is 1-800-273-8255.