Facts & Figures
Did you know that over 30,000 people in the U.S. die by suicide every year?
The statistics surrounding suicide are alarming. The Center for Disease Control reports that there has been a dramatic rise in suicide rates in the last 15 years. In fact, the incidence of suicide has almost tripled.
Below are facts and statistics divided by categories. For more information about regional statistics in Pennsylvania, click here.
General
- Every year in the U.S over 30,000 people die by suicide.
- Suicide is fourth leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
- Currently, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death, most commonly a depressive disorder or substance abuse disorder.
- Every day, approximately 80 Americans take their own life, and 1,500 attempt to do so.
Youth
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds.
- Among young people aged 10-14 years, the rate has doubled in the last two decades.
- Young people were much more likely to use firearms, suffocation, and poisoning than other methods of suicide, overall.
Elderly
- Suicide rates for men rise with age, most significantly after 65.
- The rate of suicide in men 65 and older is seven times that of females who are 65 and older.
- The suicide rates for women peak between the ages of 40-54 years old.
- About 60 percent of elderly patients who take their own lives see their primary care physician within a few months of their death.
- Of every 100,000 people ages 65 and older, 14.3 died by suicide in 2004. This figure is higher than the national average of 10.9 suicides per 100,000 people in the general population.
Women and Men
- Suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for males and the sixteenth leading cause of death for females in 2004.
- Almost four times as many males as females die by suicide; but, women report attempting suicide during their lifetime about three times as often as men.
Alcohol and Suicide
- Alcoholism is a factor in about 30 percent of all completed suicides.
- An estimated one to six percent of individuals with alcohol dependency will die by suicide.
- People who are addicted to alcohol are at higher risk if they also suffer from depression. At the time of death by suicide, 50 to 75 percent of alcohol-dependent individuals are suffering from depression.
Firearms and Suicide
- Firearms are used in more suicides than homicides.
- Firearms are the most commonly used method of suicide for men and women, accounting for 60 percent of all suicides.
Learn about the warnings and risk factors associated with suicide. Find out what kind of prevention programs may be available in your area.
Download a PDF with the full PA stats here.
Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
