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Wisconsin Suicide Facts:

• Suicide is the tenth most common cause of death in Wisconsin . 600-800 deaths a year can be attributed to suicide.

• In 2003: Suicide was the second most common cause of death among people age 15-34 in 2003. It was third nationally in 2002!

• In 2004: # of suicide deaths in Wisconsin 656. Homicide 149. HIV 48.

• In 2005: 18% of Wisconsin high school students have seriously contemplated attempting suicide.   (2005 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey)

• In Winnebago County the highest suicide rate occurs among white males age 25-55.

• More teenagers/young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined.

• 10 people under the age of 15 died by suicide in Wisconsin in 2000, 9 in 2001, 6 in 2002,and 7 in 2003.

• Suicide rates are the highest among people age 65 and older.

• Elderly males (ages 75+) are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than the generalpopulation in Wisconsin .

• In the month prior to their suicide, 75% of elderly persons had visited a physician.

• 466 of the 656 total suicides represent adult working men and women ages 25-64.

• Each suicide death is estimated to affect at least six other person’s family, school,           workplace or community. This means nearly 3900 Wisconsin residents are affected by a loved one’s suicide each year.

• Suicide attempts are much more common than death by suicide. Attempts are estimated to be about 20 x the number of deaths.

• Many who make suicide attempts never seek professional care immediately after the attempt. Hospitalization costs attributed to suicide attempts and suicides totaled $37,981,622 in 2002 (does not include emergency room visits of which there were 3744 at an approximate cost of $1,000 per visit).

• 48% of Wisconsin suicides were by firearm in 2003.     Sources: DHFS and CDC