The Well Ministries

SUICIDE FACTS

Written by Kris | Published: January 4, 2006

Over 32,000 people in the United States kill themselves every year.
Accounting for 1.4% of all deaths, suicide is the 9th leading cause of death in the U.S.
A person commits suicide about every 15 minutes in the U.S. but it is estimated that an attempt is made about once a minute.
There are 4 male suicides for every female; twice as many females as males attempt suicide.
7-10% of those who attempt suicide end up killing themselves
60-70% of those who talk about suicide to relatives or friends do it within six months

DEPRESSION

Over 60% of all people who commit suicide suffer from major depression. If one includes alcoholics who are depressed, this figure rises to over 75%.
About 15% of the population will suffer from clinical depression at some time during their lifetime. 30% of all clinically depressed patients attempt suicide; half of them succeed.

WOMEN AND SUICIDE

A woman commits suicide every 90 minutes in the U.S., but it is estimated that one woman attempts suicide every 78 seconds.
Suicide is more common among women who are single, recently separated, divorced, or widowed.
Women are more likely than men to have stronger social supports, to feel that their relationships are deterrents to committing suicide, and to seek psychiatric and medical intervention.

YOUTH

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students.
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among all those 15-34 years old.
Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death among all those 10-14 years old.
The suicide rate for young men (15-24) has tripled since 1950 while for young women (15-24) it has more than doubled; the rate for younger girls (10-14) has tripled since 1980.
Explanations for the increase in suicide rates among all youths include family breakdown, easier access to alcohol and illicit drugs, and easier lethal suicide methods.

OLDER PEOPLE

The suicide rates for men are relatively constant from ages 20-64, but increase significantly after age 65.
The suicide rates for women peak between the ages of 40-54 years old, and peak again after age 75.
After a steady decrease from 1950-1980 in the suicide rates for those over 65, suicide in this age group is once again on the increase.
The highest suicide rates are found among white men over 50 representing 10% of the population. They are responsible for 33% of the suicides.

ALCOHOL AND SUICIDE

96% of alcoholics who attempt to commit suicide continue their substance abuse up to the end of their lives.
Alcoholism is a factor in about 30% of all completed suicides.
18% of alcoholics die by suicide, 87% of these deaths are males.

FIREARMS AND SUICIDE

60% of all people who commit suicide kill themselves with firearms.
Although most gun owners reportedly keep a firearm in their home for “protection” or “self defense,” 83% of gun related deaths in these homes are the result of a suicide, often by someone other than the gun owner.
Fewer than 10% of people who commit suicide buy a gun with the specific intent of killing themselves.
Firearms are now the leading method of suicide in women, as well as men.
Firearms are now used in more suicides than homicides.
States with stricter gun control laws have lower rates of suicide.

MEDICAL ILLNESS AND SUICIDE

Highest suicide rates occur in those over 50. In more than half of those deaths medical illness plays an important role in the motivation to commit suicide.
Patients who desire an early death during a serious or terminal illness are usually suffering from a treatable depressive condition.