Facts –
- Suicide takes the lives of nearly 40,000 Americans every year.
- Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
- There are twice as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS
- Between 1952 and 1995, suicide in young adults nearly tripled.
- Over half of all suicides occur in adult men, ages 25-65.
- In the month prior to their suicide, 75% of elderly persons had visited a physician.
- Suicide rates in the United States are highest in the spring.
- Over half of all suicides are completed with a firearm.
- For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the second leading cause of death.
- Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed.
- 80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.
- 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide.
- There are an estimated 8 to 25 attempted suicides to 1 completion
- The highest suicide rate is among men over 85 years old: 65 per 100,000 persons.
- 1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 die by suicide each year.
- Substance abuse is a risk factor for suicide.
- The strongest risk factor for suicide is depression.
- In 2011, 39,518 people died by suicide. (CDC)
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. (homicide is 16th). (CDC)
- It is estimated that there are at least 4.5 million survivors in this country. (AAS)
- An average of one person dies by suicide every 13.3 minutes. (CDC, AAS)
- There are four male suicides for every female suicide. (CDC, AAS)
- Research has shown medications and therapy to be effective suicide prevention.
- Suicide can be prevented through education and public awareness.
- Last year SAVE educated 10,618 youth & parents on depression and suicide prevention.
- Last year SAVE received 810 requests for information from 72 countries.
- In 2004 it is estimated there were 811,000 suicide attempts in the US. (AAS)
- There are three female suicide attempts for each male attempt. (CDC, AAS)
According to the Violent Death Reporting System, 73% of suicides also tested positive for at least one substance (alcohol, cocaine, heroin or marijuana).