Our life expectancy rates fell again last year.

While fewer deaths from cancer and heart failure were encouraging, rising suicide and overdose rates concern health officials.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show life expectancy down a 10th of a year, to 78.6 years.

Life expectancy is 84.1 years in Japan and 83.7 years in Switzerland.

Our state’s suicide rate rose more than 38% between 1999 and 2016.

This was more than any other state in the Southeast, federal statistics show.

The state suicide rate is 23rd in the US.

Experts blame this on:

• The sharpest rise in suicide in nearly a decade.

• A rise in deaths from opioid drugs like fentanyl.

White men and women fared worst, along with black men. They experienced higher death rates.

Fatalities rose for adults 25 to 44 years and suicide rates were highest among those in rural areas.

Deaths declined for black and Hispanic women.

According to the CDC:

• SC male suicides rose 23.7% compared to 21.9% nationally, and female suicides rose 7.2% compared to 6.2% nationally.

• SC white suicides rose to 18.97% compared to 15.6% nationally. African-American suicides rose to 5.2% compared to 5.6% nationally.

Economists and health experts feel life expectancy is vital to prosperity.

2017 data paints a dark picture of health and wellbeing due to addiction and despair among young and middle-aged adults.

A decades-long decline in heart disease deaths is believed to be the result of anti-smoking and other public health campaigns.