Suicide in the US: Facts

Suicide in America: Facts

Suicide takes the lives of almost 30,000 Americans every year.

Many who attempt suicide never seek professional help.

There are twice as many deaths attributable to suicide than to HIV/AIDS.

Between 1952 and 1995, suicide in young adults almost tripled.

More than half of all suicides occur in adult men ages 25-65.

In the month prior to their suicides, 75% of elderly persons had seen a physician.

Suicide rates in the United States are highest in the spring.

More than half of all suicides are accomplished with a firearm.

For young people 15-24-years-old, suicide is the third leading cause of death.

Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed.

Eighty percent of those who seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.

Fifteen percent of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide.

There are an estimated eight to 25 attempted suicides to every one successful suicide.

The highest suicide rate is among men over 85 years-of-age: 65 per 100,000 persons.

One in 65,000 children, ages 10 to 14, commit suicide each year.

Substance abuse is a risk factor for suicide.

The strongest risk factor for suicide is depression.

Depression is the Number 1 disability in the world according to the World Health Organization.

In 2010, there were 38,364 suicides in the United States.

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. (Homicide is 15th).

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for Americans 15- to 24-years-of-age.

It is estimated there are at least 4.5 million suicide survivors in the US.

An average of one person in the US dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes.

There are four male suicides to every one female suicide.

Research has shown that medications and therapy are effective in preventing suicide.

Suicide can be prevented through education and public awareness.

For every one male suicide attempt, there are three female attempts.

According to the Violent Death Reporting System, 73% of suicides tested positive for at least one substance of the following substances – alcohol, cocaine, heroin or marijuana.

Source: SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education).