Mental Health: Suicide

Deaths of despair (deaths due to alcohol, drugs and suicide)1 have been on the rise among adults. This topic explores suicide rates among Massachusetts residents by race/ethnicity and age.

Additional Information and Footnotes

Hispanic is used to reflect current data collection practices. We acknowledge this may not be the preferred term. Throughout this report, NH refers to Non-Hispanic. People of color refers to individuals identifying as Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Other. Unless otherwise noted, adults are ages 18+. Data are most recently available for the specified data source.

¹ Well Being Trust. (2020). · Pain in the Nation. Retrieved from: http://wellbeingtrust.org/areas-of-focus/policy-and-advocacy/reports/pain-in-the-nation/.

² Scutchfield, F. D. & Keck, C.W. (2017) Deaths of Despair: Why? What to Do? American Journal of Public Health, 107, 1564-1565. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303992

Additional Resources

Technical notes for this data story

Data Download: Suicide PHIT Data Story

As a publicly available tool, we highly encourage the use of data included in PHIT. Below is an example of how you can cite this webpage to reference any information you find helpful.

[Insert Title of Webpage Here] (n.d.). Population Health Information Tool, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. [Insert URL]