Unless I'm misreading, the data you link suggests that the correct interpretation is that the US has basically middle-of-the-road suicide rates by European standards, no? Going by the age-standardized rates, it's sandwiched between Sweden and France in the list. Some European countries are significantly higher (Belgium, Poland), while others are significantly lower (Spain, UK), but the US doesn't seem to be a real outlier.
The linked page says you can't compare suicide rates across countries.
For example, the UK statistics would tend to over count deaths. Here's the definition we use:
---begin
The National Statistics definition of suicide includes all deaths from intentional self-harm for persons aged 10 and over, and deaths where the intent was undetermined for those aged 15 and over. This definition was revised in January 2016 and further information on the impact can be found in the 2014 suicide registrations bulletin.
Deaths from an event of undetermined intent in 10 to 14 year-olds are not included because although for older teenagers and adults we assume that in these deaths the harm was self-inflicted, for younger children it is not clear whether this assumption is appropriate. Deaths from an event of undetermined intent cannot be applied to children due to the possibility that these deaths were caused by unverifiable accidents, neglect or abuse.
---end
I'm unable to find the definition used by the CDC, but I think it's likely to include language like "with the intent to end life".
