U.S. suicide rate fell slightly last year for the first time in more than decade

The U.S. suicide rate inched lower last year for the first time in more than a decade, according to new preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The decrease was small but promising, Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said.

“Preliminary 2019 suicide rate data finds the rate declining for the first time since 1999,” she said in a Twitter post. “Need to continue to monitor for final CDC data but I am encouraged by this news. Still much work...