National Statistics

For the latest American Association of Suicidology Statistics click here.

In the US in 2005, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death. Homicide ranks 15th.

For 15-24 year old, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death, following accidents and homicide.

Firearms were involved with 52.1% of all deaths by suicide in 2005 (AAS).

National Vital Statistics Reports, National Center for Health Statistics

Year	US Total	US rate per 100,000 population	Kansas Total	Kansas Rate per 100,000 population
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007	30,906 30,810 30,484 31,102 31,142 31,284 30,903 30,535 30,575 29,199 29,350 30,622 31,655 31,484 32,439 32637 due 12/08	12.4 12.2 12.0 12.1 12.0 11.9 11.6 11.4 11.3 10.7 10.7 10.8 11.0 10.8 11.1 11.0	297 310 311 336 292 291 334 320 325 299 325 293 345 347 368 362 377 380	12.0 12.4 12.4 13.3 11.4 11.3 13.0 12.3 12.4 11.3 12.2 10.8 12.7 12.7 13.5 13.2 13.6 13.7

American Association of Suicidology - 2005 National Information

Deaths by suicide:

• Every 16.1 minutes, one person
• Every 1 hour 37.3 minutes, one person 65 or older
• Every 1 hour 57.2 minutes, one person under 24
• Making suicide the 11th leading cause of death (with homicide ranking as the 15th)
• The number of deaths of males is 3.8 times the number for females

Suicide attempts:

• Estimates that the number of attempts is 25 times than the number of deaths, resulting in 816,000 attempts this year
• For younger people, estimates that the number of attempts is 100-200 times the number of deaths; for elders 4:1
• The number of attempts by females is 3 times the number by males

Survivors of suicide loss - family and friends who lost a loved one to suicide

• Each death intimately affects at least 6 other people
• Based on the numbers of deaths by suicide from 1978 through 2004, the number of survivors is estimated at 4.6 million – 1 of every 65 Americans

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS)

A representative sample of 9-12 graders from across the U.S. reported that they had experienced the following with the 12 months before taking the survey:

• 28.5% had felt so sad or hopeless everyday for at least two weeks in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities
• 16.9% had seriously considered attempting suicide
• 13% had made a plan to attempt suicide
• 8.4% had attempted suicide one or more times
• 2.3% had made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse

Additional Statistics:

Method:

Guns are used in 60% of suicide deaths in the U.S. and are the leading method among nearly all groups. The use of guns for suicide deaths is increasing in all age groups and for females. Hanging deaths account for 14% of all suicide deaths. Pills and other solid or liquid substances are the method utilized in 70% of all non-fatal suicide attempts. Cutting/stabbing account for 22%.

Rate In U.S. :

The suicide rate in the U.S. has been fairly stable for the past fifty years, going down slightly in the past few years. Rates vary by age, gender, and race. U.S. rates are moderate among those for other nations. Highest U.S. rates of suicide are found among the Mountain states, with the New England and Mid-Atlantic states consistently lowest. In Kansas the 2002 rate of suicide was 12.6 per 100,000.

Gender:

In the U.S. , women's rates of suicide have remained fairly stable since the 1970's. Men's rates have actually increased, then slightly decreased since 1998. There are currently 4.1 male suicide deaths for each female suicide death. There are 3 female suicide attempts for each male attempt.

Survivors of Suicide (Friends and Families of Those Who Died of Suicide):

It is estimated that for every one suicide death, six people are intimately affected. Research shows more consistency than difference in the bereavement process of survivors of suicide as compared to those who experience losses from other causes of death.

Terminal Illness and Suicide:

Recent studies indicate that 2-4% of all suicide deaths were by people with terminal illness.

Youth Suicide:

Youth suicide rates for the late 1980's and early 1990's are more than 200% higher than those in the mid 1950's. This increase occurred throughout the 1960's until the late 1970's. The overall rate for those 15-24 years old has stabilized since the late 1970's, changing little.