SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK, May 6 - 12, 2001: More people die from suicide than from homicide in the U.S. Every day approximately 86 Americans commit suicide, and 1,500 people attempt to commit suicide.
--Suicide took the lives of 30,575 Americans in 1998 (11.3 per 100,000 population)
--More people die from suicide than from homicide. In 1998, there were 1.7 times as many suicides as homicides.
--Overall, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for all Americans, and is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24.
--Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than are females. However, females are more likely to attempt suicide than are males.
--1998, white males accounted for 73% of all suicides. Together, white males and white females accounted for over 90% of all suicides.1 However, during the period from 1979-1992, suicide rates for Native Americans (a category that includes American Indians and Alaska Natives) were about 1.5 times the national rates. There was a disproportionate number of suicides among young male Native Americans during this period, as males 15-24 accounted for 64% of all suicides by Native Americans.
--Suicide rates are generally higher than the national average in the western states and lower in the eastern and midwestern states.
--Nearly 3 of every 5 suicides in 1998 (57%) were committed with a firearm.
SUICIDE AMONG THE YOUNG
--Persons under age 25 accounted for 15% of all suicides in 1998.1 From 1952-1995, the incidence of suicide among adolescents and young adults nearly tripled. From 1980-1997, the rate of suicide among persons aged 15-19 years increased by 11% and among persons aged 10-14 years by 109%. From 1980-1996, the rate increased 105% for African-American males aged 15-19.
--For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide. In 1998, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
--Among persons aged 15-19 years, firearm-related suicides accounted for 62% of the increase in the overall rate of suicide from 1980-1997.
--The risk for suicide among young people is greatest among young white males; however, from 1980 through 1995, suicide rates increased most rapidly among young black males. Although suicide among young children is a rare event, the dramatic increase in the rate among persons aged 10-14 years underscores the urgent need for intensifying efforts to prevent suicide among persons in this age group.
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{from cdc.gov}
SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK, May 6 - 12, 2001: More people die from suicide than from homicide in the U.S. Every day approximately 86 Americans commit suicide, and 1,500 people attempt to commit suicide.
--Suicide took the lives of 30,575 Americans in 1998 (11.3 per 100,000 population)
--More people die from suicide than from homicide. In 1998, there were 1.7 times as many suicides as homicides.
--Overall, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for all Americans, and is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24.
--Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than are females. However, females are more likely to attempt suicide than are males.
--1998, white males accounted for 73% of all suicides. Together, white males and white females accounted for over 90% of all suicides.1 However, during the period from 1979-1992, suicide rates for Native Americans (a category that includes American Indians and Alaska Natives) were about 1.5 times the national rates. There was a disproportionate number of suicides among young male Native Americans during this period, as males 15-24 accounted for 64% of all suicides by Native Americans.
--Suicide rates are generally higher than the national average in the western states and lower in the eastern and midwestern states.
--Nearly 3 of every 5 suicides in 1998 (57%) were committed with a firearm.
SUICIDE AMONG THE YOUNG--Persons under age 25 accounted for 15% of all suicides in 1998.1 From 1952-1995, the incidence of suicide among adolescents and young adults nearly tripled. From 1980-1997, the rate of suicide among persons aged 15-19 years increased by 11% and among persons aged 10-14 years by 109%. From 1980-1996, the rate increased 105% for African-American males aged 15-19.
--For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide. In 1998, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
--Among persons aged 15-19 years, firearm-related suicides accounted for 62% of the increase in the overall rate of suicide from 1980-1997.
--The risk for suicide among young people is greatest among young white males; however, from 1980 through 1995, suicide rates increased most rapidly among young black males. Although suicide among young children is a rare event, the dramatic increase in the rate among persons aged 10-14 years underscores the urgent need for intensifying efforts to prevent suicide among persons in this age group.