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Facts About Suicide

  1. Worldwide there are more deaths due to suicide than to accidents, homicides and war combined.
  2. About 30,000 people in the US die by suicide every year.
  3. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for college students. It is estimated that 1100 students die each year at college from suicide.
  4. Currently suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the US
  5. Every day approximately 80 Americans take their life and 1500 more attempt to do so.
  6. A person dies by suicide every 18 minutes in the US. An attempt is estimated to be made every minute.
  7. In the US in 2001 the suicide rate among women was 4.1 per 100,000 while for men it was 17.6 per 100,000.
  8. There are more than 4 male suicides for every female suicide but twice as many females than males attempt suicide.
  9. Firearms are the most frequent method of suicide among adults in the US.
  10. College students commit suicide by hanging or jumping primarily
  11. Over 90% of people who die by suicide had at least one psychiatric illness at the time of death. The most common diagnoses are depression and drug/alcohol abuse.
  12. Alcoholism is a factor in about 30% of all suicide deaths.
  13. Early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychiatric illnesses appears to be the best way to prevent suicide.
  14. Certain personality disorders such as Borderline and Antisocial personality disorders appear to carry a high risk for suicide. Impulsivity also appears to be a risk factor for suicide.
  15. Between 20-50% of people who kill themselves have attempted suicide previously. Although the majority of people  who die by suicide have not made a previous attempt, a serious suicide attempt is a clear risk factor for suicide death.
  16. Suicidal individuals often talk openly about suicide directly or indirectly using statements like "My family would be better off without me.” Sometimes they talk as if they are saying goodbye or going away, and may arrange to put their affairs in order. Other signs are giving away articles they value, paying off debts or changing a will.

From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the JED Foundation