When we are at our lowest, it’s often hard not to feel alone. As Suicide Prevention Awareness Month draws to a close, it’s crucial to remember that those who have suicidal thoughts are not nearly as alone as they think.
Below are the statistical information for the impact that suicide can have on both individuals and communities.
Individual Impact:
- 75% of all people who die by suicide are male.
- Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are nearly 4x more likely to die by suicide.
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10-34 and the 4th leading cause of death for people 35-54
The overall suicide rate in the U.S. has increased by 31% since 2001 - 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition
- While half of individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosed mental health condition, research shows that 90% experienced symptoms.
Community Impact:
- In 2017, suicide was:
- the second leading cause of death for American Indian/Alaska Natives between the ages of 10-34.1
- the second leading cause of death for African Americans, ages 15-24.1
- the leading cause of death for Asian Americans, ages 15-24.1
- the second leading cause of death for Hispanic people in the U.S., ages 15-34.
American Indian/Alaska Native adults die by suicide at a rate 20% higher than
non-Hispanic white adults.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.
Transgender people are 12 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.
10% of young adults say they experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year.
1CDC. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). [Accessed 08/02/2019]. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html
It is with these statistics in mind that we push forward and do our best to mitigate and help to prevent suicide from claiming others. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to someone or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255.