Suicide Facts

• Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming about 30,000 lives a year.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 (86% male, 14% female).
• Ninety percent of persons who commit suicide have depression or another diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder.
• Every day, 14 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 commit suicide; that's approximately 1 every 100 minutes.
• Suicide attempts are among the leading causes of hospital admissions in persons under 35.
• Men are more than four times as likely as women to commit suicide. However, women attempt suicide about twice as often as men do.
• The highest suicide rates in the U.S. are found in white males, second highest among American Indians and native Alaskan men.  The highest subgroup is white males over the age of 85.
• Suicide can be prevented.

Resources

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:  1-800-273-8255
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  120 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
  New York, NY 10005
  212-363-3500 or 888-333-2377
  www.afsp.org
• National Mental Health Association
  2001 N. Beauregard Street - 12th Floor
  Alexandria, VA 22311
  703-684-7722 or 800-969-6642
  www.nmha.org
• SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
  800-789-2647
  mentalhealth.samhsa.go