Politics gets under your skin. We all know that. But after the dust settled on November 5, a specific, heavy question started circulating in group chats and across social media: did the suicide count after election 2024 actually spike? People were scared. Honestly, I saw the posts too—claims of a massive surge in self-harm as the results rolled in.
The truth is rarely as simple as a viral headline.
📖 Related: How Much Aspirin to Take: Heart Attack Advice That Saves Lives
When you look at the raw numbers from the CDC and organizations like The Trevor Project, a complex picture emerges. It’s not just a single "count." It’s a story about crisis hotlines, historical trends, and how certain communities feel the weight of a ballot box more than others.
Understanding the Suicide Count After Election 2024
If you're looking for a single, finalized national number for the suicide count after election 2024, you won't find it yet. That's not how government data works. The CDC usually takes about a year or more to finalize death records. However, we do have provisional data and, perhaps more importantly, real-time data from crisis centers that tell us exactly what was happening in American living rooms that night.
On November 6, 2024—the day after the election—The Trevor Project reported a 700% increase in crisis contact volume.
That is a staggering number. Seven times the normal amount of people reaching out because they felt they couldn't go on. Most of these calls and texts came from LGBTQ+ youth. For them, the election wasn't just about taxes or foreign policy. It felt like a verdict on their right to exist. The volume of "election-related content" in those conversations jumped by 5,200% compared to the weeks leading up to the vote.
What happened at the CDC?
Interestingly, the broader national data for 2024 actually showed a slight dip in the overall annual suicide rate. According to provisional CDC reports released in late 2025, about 48,800 people died by suicide in 2024. That’s roughly 500 fewer than in 2023.
So, how do we reconcile a 700% spike in crisis calls with a slight drop in the annual total?
- Hotlines work. The massive surge in calls means people were reaching for help instead of acting alone.
- The "Unifying" Effect. Some sociologists argue that elections, while stressful, can sometimes temporarily lower suicide rates because people feel "integrated" into a larger national event.
- Regional Variance. While the national average dipped, rates in the Mountain West remained stubbornly high, while parts of the South and Midwest saw improvements.
The Mental Health Toll on Specific Groups
Politics is personal. For many, the suicide count after election 2024 is a statistic that hides individual faces. Women, for instance, reported much higher levels of anxiety and "electoral despair" following the results. A study by the ADAA highlighted that the intolerance of uncertainty—not knowing what laws would change regarding healthcare or workplace equality—was a primary driver of mental health crises.
Then you have the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Since its launch, it has been a literal lifeline. But even that saw shifts. In the summer of 2024, a change in how LGBTQ+ callers under 25 were routed—specifically removing a dedicated prompt for specialized counselors—sparked outcry from public health experts like Katherine Keyes at Columbia University. They worried that removing specialized support during a high-stress election year was a recipe for disaster.
Gun Violence and the Election
We also have to talk about the method. In 2025, data from The Trace and the CDC showed that while homicides were falling, firearm suicides were actually creeping up. About 55% of all suicide deaths in the U.S. involve a gun. When political tension hits a boiling point, the "easy accessibility" to lethal means becomes a major risk factor. It's a dark intersection of policy and personal pain.
Why 2024 Felt Different
Every election is "the most important of our lifetime," right? But 2024 had a specific flavor of dread.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, 73% of U.S. adults were particularly anxious about the 2024 election. That’s nearly three-quarters of the country. When that much of the population is "red-lining" their stress levels, the system breaks. People stop sleeping. They stop connecting.
Historical research on elections from 1980 to 2004 shows that states supporting the "loser" typically see a temporary rise in suicide risk due to a feeling of isolation from the national majority. Basically, if your neighbors all voted for the person you think will ruin your life, you feel alone. And loneliness is a killer.
What We Can Actually Do Now
If you're still feeling the "election hangover" or if the suicide count after election 2024 feels like more than just a number to you, there are real, non-political steps to take.
First, limit the "certainty-seeking" behaviors. Googling every potential policy change at 2:00 AM doesn't give you control; it just keeps your brain in a state of fight-or-flight. Experts suggest "value-based actions" instead. If you're worried about a specific issue, volunteer locally. It moves the needle from "global dread" to "local impact."
Second, check on your friends in "high-risk" brackets. The data shows that trans and nonbinary youth are facing a legitimate mental health emergency. A little bit of affirmation goes a long way.
✨ Don't miss: Sleeping for 30 years: What really happens when the brain checks out for decades
Practical Next Steps for Mental Health Recovery:
- Audit your feed. If certain accounts only post "doom" content, unfollow them. Your nervous system isn't built for 24/7 catastrophe.
- Use the 988 Lifeline. It’s not just for when you’re "at the edge." You can call or text just to talk through the weight of it all.
- Secure your home. If you or someone you live with is struggling, ensure that medications and firearms are locked away. Time and distance are the best suicide prevention tools we have.
- Connect in person. Digital "communities" are often just echo chambers of anxiety. Go to a coffee shop, join a hobby group, or just walk in a park. Physical presence reduces the feeling of electoral isolation.
The 2024 election is over, but the mental health fallout is something we’re still measuring. While the national "count" didn't see the catastrophic explosion some feared, the localized pain in vulnerable communities was, and is, very real. Taking care of each other is the only way through.