Definition
Suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the United States. People may consider suicide when they are hopeless and can’t see any other solution to their problems. Often it’s related to serious depression, alcohol or substance abuse, or a major stressful event. People who have the highest risk of suicide are white men, though women and teens report more suicide attempts. If someone talks about suicide, you should take it seriously. Urge them to get help from their doctor or the emergency room, or call 911. Therapy and medicines can help most people who have suicidal thoughts. Treating mental illnesses and substance abuse can reduce the risk of suicide.
Articles
- Suicide Basics
- Know the Warning Signs-Prevent Suicide in Young People
- Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention
- Suicide Warning Signs
- Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers
- Self-inflicted Injury/Suicide
- Suicide Facts at a Glance
- Preventing Suicide
- Suicide Trends Among Youths and Young Adults Aged 10—24 Years
- Risk Factors for Suicide
- Suicide Prevention Scientific Information: Prevention Strategies
Article Summaries
Suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the United States. People may consider suicide when they are hopeless and can’t see any other solution to their problems. Often it’s related to serious depression, alcohol or substance abuse, or a major stressful event. People who have the highest risk of suicide are white men, though women and teens report more suicide attempts. If someone talks about suicide, you should take it seriously. Urge them to get help from their doctor or the emergency room, or call 911. Therapy and medicines can help most people who have suicidal thoughts. Treating mental illnesses and substance abuse can reduce the risk of suicide.
Know the Warning Signs-Prevent Suicide in Young People
Suicide is a serious problem among young people. You may be surprised to learn that it is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 19-year-olds in the United States. Only accidents and homicide are more common causes of death for this age group1. A far greater number of youths attempt suicide each year. Suicide attempts are not easy to count because many may not be treated in a hospital or may not be recorded as self-inflicted injuries. Survey data from 2005 show that 17 percent of high school students had seriously thought about suicide, 13 percent had made plans to attempt suicide, and more than 8 percent had made a suicide attempt during the year before the survey. Suicidal behavior is different among young women than among young men. Young women attempt suicide three times more often than young men. However, four times more young men than young women actually die from suicide3. This may be because females and males tend to use different methods when attempting suicide. Young women often attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or cutting themselves-methods which offer more opportunities for rescue. Young men often use firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights-methods which usually cause instant death and offer no chance to intervene4. Suicide among young white men accounts for most suicide deaths, but the suicide rate among young black men is rising. Suicide rates for American Indians aged 15 to 19 are high (19 percent of deaths) compared to overall rates for this age group (less than 13 percent of deaths).
Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention
Suicide is a major, preventable public health problem. In 2004, it was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 32,439 deaths.1 The overall rate was 10.9 suicide deaths per 100,000 people.1 An estimated eight to 25 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death. Suicidal behavior is complex. Some risk factors vary with age, gender, or ethnic group and may occur in combination or change over time. If you are in a crisis and need help right away: Call this toll-free number, available 24 hours a day, every day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You will reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a service available to anyone. You may call for yourself or for someone you care about. All calls are confidential. What are the risk factors for suicide?
Seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK if you or someone you know exhibits any of the following signs: Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself. Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, pills, or other means. Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person. Feeling hopeless. Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge. Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities – seemingly without thinking. Feeling trapped-like there’s no way out
Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers
Depression is a serious disorder that can cause significant problems in mood, thinking, and behavior at home, in school, and with peers. It is estimated that major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 5 percent of adolescents. Research has shown that, as in adults, depression in children and adolescents is treatable. Certain antidepressant medications, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can be beneficial to children and adolescents with MDD. Certain types of psychological therapies also have been shown to be effective. However, our knowledge of antidepressant treatments in youth, though growing substantially, is limited compared to what we know about treating depression in adults.
Annual Suicide Statistics
Suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death for all ages (CDC 2005). Suicides accounted for 1.4% of all deaths in the U.S. (CDC 2005). More than 32,000 suicides occurred in the U.S. This is the equivalent of 89 suicides per day; one suicide every 16 minutes or 11.05 suicides per 100,000 population (CDC 2005). The National Violent Death Reporting System examined toxicology tests of those who committed suicide in 13 states: 33.3% tested positive for alcohol; 16.4% for opiates; 9.4% for cocaine; 7.7% for marijuana; and 3.9% for amphetamines (Karch et al. 2006).
Someone commits suicide every 17 minutes. In 2002, 31,655 Americans took their own lives. Suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15-to 24-year-olds, the fourth leading cause among 25-to 44-year-olds, and the eighth leading cause among 45- to 64-year-olds. Though suicide is a serious problem among youth and adults, death rates continue to be highest among older adults ages 65 and over. The number of deaths from suicide reflects only a small portion of the impact of suicidal behavior. In 2002, more than 90,000 people were hospitalized following suicide attempts. More than 324,000 were treated in h
Suicide Trends Among Youths and Young Adults Aged 10—24 Years
In 2004, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youths and young adults aged 10-24 years in the United States, accounting for 4,599 deaths (1,2). During 1990-2003, the combined suicide rate for persons aged 10-24 years declined 28.5%, from 9.48 to 6.78 per 100,000 persons (2). However, from 2003 to 2004, the rate increased by 8.0%, from 6.78 to 7.32 (2), the largest single-year increase during 1990-2004. To characterize U.S. trends in suicide among persons aged 10-24 years, CDC analyzed data recorded during 1990-2004, the most recent data available. Results of that analysis indicated that, from 2003 to 2004, suicide rates for three sex-age groups (i.e., females aged 10-14 years and 15-19 years and males aged 15-19 years) departed upward significantly from otherwise declining trends. Results further indicated that suicides both by hanging/suffocation and poisoning among females aged 10-14 years and 15-19 years increased from 2003 to 2004 and were significantly in excess of trends in both groups. The results suggest that increases in suicide and changes in suicidal behavior might have occurred among youths in certain sex-age groups, especially females aged 10-19 years. Closer examination of these trends is warranted at federal and state levels. Where indicated, health authorities and program directors should consider focusing suicide-prevention activities on these groups to help prevent suicide rates from increasing further.
A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of suicide. Risk factors are those characteristics associated with suicide—they may or may not be direct causes. Risk Factors: Family history of suicide, Family history of child maltreatment, Previous suicide attempt(s), History of mental disorders, particularly depression
Suicide Prevention Scientific Information: Prevention Strategies
Suicide is a serious problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. The goal for the prevention of suicidal behavior is simple: stop it from happening in the first place. However, the solutions are just as complex as the problem. Prevention efforts should ultimately reduce risk factors and promote protective factors. In addition, prevention should address all levels that influence suicide: individual, relationship, community, and society. Effective prevention strategies are necessary to promote awareness about suicide and to foster a commitment to social change. Effective and Promising Programs