Individuals between the ages of 25 and 64 who are on Medicaid had a higher rate of suicide in 2020 than people in that age group in the general population, according to a report in Psychiatric Services.Why It’s Relevant
The finding “is consistent with the theory that job insecurity and associated economic stress may place Medicaid beneficiaries at heightened suicide risk” the study authors wrote. “Compared with individuals in other age groups, those ages 25-64 are more likely to be in the labor force and subject to job layoffs and economic stress.”
By the Numbers
- Based on Medicaid enrollment data and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Death Index, 9,401 Medicaid beneficiaries died by suicide in 2020, accounting for 20.4% of all suicide deaths in the United States and 2.1% of all deaths among Medicaid beneficiaries.
- Among individuals ages 25 to 64, there were 21.1 suicide deaths per 100,000 people for Medicaid beneficiaries compared with 17.6 suicide deaths for all U.S. residents.
- Medicaid beneficiaries under age 25 or over 64 had a lower rate of suicide deaths than the general U.S. population in those age groups.
Some Limitations
Because 2020 was the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have differentially affected the risk for suicide among the different populations in this study, there is a need for more recent research. Additionally, the researchers could compare Medicaid data only with the entire U.S. population, as opposed to a non-Medicaid population, which may have diluted differences in suicide rates.
What’s Next
The authors suggested that Medicaid programs could expand evidence-based interventions for reducing suicide risk, such as follow-ups after a mental health hospitalization or crisis event, cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and prescription of antidepressants. Expanded unemployment insurance benefits may also reduce suicide risk.
“To further evaluate these different policies and programs, federal and state agencies should invest in data collection and analytics to improve suicide related surveillance, research, and evaluation,” the researchers wrote.
Related Article
Source:
Benjamin Huber and Tami L. Mark. Suicide deaths among Medicaid beneficiaries. Psychiatric Services. Published December 23, 2025. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.20250150
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Ziga Plahutar)
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