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International and National Suicide Facts:

• Many suicides can be prevented, but not all.

• Internationally, more than 1,000,000 people die by suicide every year.

• Nationally, more than 32,500 deaths a year are attributed to suicide. This is a low number because it is sometimes difficult to prove suicide.

• More than 240,500 people are devastated by suicide each year.

• Females attempt suicide 4 times more often than males, but males die by suicide 4 times as often as females.

• Completed suicides increase as we age. Currently white males over 65 have the highest suicide rate in America followed closely by African American/Native American males.

• The risk of death by suicide is 2-3 times greater in youth who feel they may be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. LGBTQ youths’ ability to “blend in” with other youth and bullying can affect the rate of attempts.

• People who work in high-stress fields such as law, farming, medicine, psychiatry, and law enforcement tend to die by suicide more than people in other professions. 

• Alcohol is a factor in at least 50% of all suicides.

• 52% of all suicide deaths are committed using a gun or firearm.

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among 14-24 year olds. (#1 is car accidents, #3 is homicide.)

• Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for 1-14 year olds. In fact, this is the one of the fastest growing group of people dying by suicide in addition to African American and Native American males. 

• Depression or other mood disorders play a factor in 60-90% of all suicides. 

• Most people who die by suicide have attempted suicide at least once before or have rehearsed their death by suicide.

• Most common methods of death by suicide:
              #1 Firearms
              #2 Poisoning (medications)
              #3 Hanging