A new report from CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), Surveillance for Violent Deaths - National Violent Death Reporting System, 18 States, 2014, describes violent deaths from 18 U.S. states for 2014. Results are reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, marital status, location of injury, method of injury, circumstances of injury, and other selected characteristics.

According to the latest data 65% of deaths in the system were suicides. Suicides were often preceded by a problem with mental health, physical health, substance abuse, or an intimate partner; or a crisis during the previous or upcoming two weeks.

Other Key Findings

Suicides occurred at higher rates among men, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives, non-Hispanic whites, persons aged 45-54 years, and men aged 75 and older.

Among suicide decedents with known circumstances, 34% left a suicide note.

The homicide rate for men was over three times the rate for women.

Non-Hispanic black males had the highest rate of homicide deaths among males of any race/ethnicity, over 11 times the homicide victim rate of non-Hispanic white males.

Homicides were commonly preceded by arguments and interpersonal conflicts or another crime (often in progress). Almost half of homicides of women were related to intimate partner violence.

Posted 2/2/18