Suicide Statistics.
Suicide, a taboo subject in our society, is often hidden from
fact. By, the suicide fact and suicide statistics are hard to
deny. Below are a list of suicide fact and suicide statistics
compiled from a variety of sources. These suicide statistics
present a grim view.
Suicide Statistics:
_ Annually about 30,000 people commit suicide.
_ Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United
States; the 8th leading cause of death for males and 19th leading
cause of death for females.
_ Suicide outnumbers homicides by 5 to 3.
_ Suicide rates are generally higher than the national average in
the western states and lower in the eastern and Midwestern states.
_ There are an estimated 8 to 20 attempted suicides to one
completion.
_ The strongest risk factors for attempted suicide in adults are
depression, alcohol abuse, cocaine use, and separation or divorce.
Male/Female Suicide Statistics:
_ White males account for over 70 percent of all suicides.
_ White males and white females account for over 90 percent of all
suicides.
_ Though females are three times more likely to attempt suicide
than are males, males are four times more likely to die from
suicide than are females.
_ Suicide by firearms accounts for 57 percent of all suicides and
is the most common method for both men and women.
Youth Suicide Statistics:
_ Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between
the ages of 15 and 24.
_ More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from
cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, and chronic
lung disease combined.
_ The strongest risk factors for attempted suicide in youth are
depression, alcohol or other drug use disorder, and aggressive or
disruptive behaviors.
Elderly Suicide Statistics:
_ In the elderly, suicide rates among for those who are divorced
or widowed.
_ White men over the age of 85 have the highest rate of suicide
deaths.
_ Men accounted for about 85% of suicides among persons aged 65
years and older.
_ The strongest risk factors for attempted suicide in the elderly
are depression and social isolation.
The strongest risk factor for suicide is depression and the vast
majority of people who attempt suicide are depressed.
If you suffer from depression and have strong suicide urges,
please seek the help of a professional therapist as soon as
possible. You can find mental health professionals who specialize
in suicide prevention by looking in your local Yellow Pages under
Mental Health and/or Suicide Prevention. Local crisis lines may
also be available. If not, call (800)-SUICIDE.
If in the midst of an acute suicide attack, check yourself into
the emergency room or tell someone who can help you find help
immediately. This is not the time to try to handle the situation
alone. After getting past the immediate risk of suicide, it is
crucial to find effective help for depression.
Related Articles on Suicide:
Depression and Suicide
II
If You Want to Commit
Suicide II
Suicide Prevention
II
Suicide Statistics
II
Suicide
Warning Signs II
Antidepressants and Suicide
II
Youth Suicide
II
Adolescent Suicide
II
Teen Suicide Statistics
II
Elderly Suicide
II
