Global Study Warns Of Rising Death Rates Among Young People

A major health study warns of an “emerging crisis” as death rates increase among teenagers and young adults worldwide, despite overall mortality declining across all 204 countries. The Global Burden of Disease study, conducted by 16,500 scientists using over 300,000 data sources, found different causes driving youth deaths regionally. In North America and Latin America, suicide and drug and alcohol consumption fuel the increases. Sub-Saharan Africa sees deaths from infectious diseases and injuries. Dr. Christopher Murray from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation linked more North American deaths to rising anxiety and depression, particularly in young women. The study shows global life expectancy at 76.3 years for women and 71.5 for men. (Story URL)