US Suicide Statistics
Suicide is all too common in American society today. It’s currently the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the 2nd leading cause of death among American teenagers ages 15 to 19. While it’s hard to imagine someone going through such pain, it’s important to examine the statistics to understand its prevalence in our society – and, more importantly, to be aware of the warning signs so you can help a friend or loved one in distress. After all, you might be the ally someone needs.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- National Institute of Mental Health
If you or a loved one have frequent thoughts about suicide, call 1-800-273-8255 — the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 365 days a year. All calls are completely confidential.
Suicide Statistics1
- 44,965 people committed suicide across all ages, making it the 10th leading cause of death that year.
- 51% of those suicides were committed with firearms.
- Suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death in 3 different age groups: 10-14, 15-24, and 25-34, accounting for more than 30% of all suicide deaths in the US.
- The most consistent methods of suicide in order from most popular: firearm, suffocation, poisoning, fall, and cut/pierce
- For every suicide death counted, 25 more attempt. More than 500,000 people in the US visited a hospital in 2015 due to self-harm.
- Men die by suicide for 3.5x more often than women.
1 2016 suicide statistics from US CDC
The number of suicide deaths in the US across all ages, races and sexes has been slowly increasing each year for the past 7 years. Below are the numbers from 2010-2016.
Suicide Deaths by Year, across all ages, races and sexes
|
Year |
Number of Suicide Deaths |
|
2016 |
44,965 |
|
2015 |
44,193 |
|
2014 |
42,826 |
|
2013 |
41,149 |
|
2012 |
40,600 |
|
2011 |
39,518 |
|
2010 |
38,364 |
Suicide Rates in the US by Age, 2016 (data includes all races and sexes)
|
Age |
Number of Suicide Deaths |
Most Common Method |
|
<9 |
7 |
Suffocation (100%) |
|
10-14 |
436 |
Suffocation (56%) |
|
15-24 |
5,723 |
Firearm (46%) |
|
25-34 |
7,366 |
Firearm (44%) |
|
35-44 |
7,030 |
Firearm (44%) |
|
45-54 |
8,437 |
Firearm (46%) |
|
55-64 |
7,759 |
Firearm (52%) |
|
65+ |
8,204 |
Firearm (70%) |
Signs that someone may be suicidal
Dealing with suicide is nuanced. While it is an uncomfortable subject to bring up with a friend or family member, it’s better to be proactive than to wait and see how a bad situation plays out. Remember, you may be just the help someone needs in a time of crisis. In addition to previous attempts and family history of suicide, the American Association of Suicidology advises to watch for “IS PATH WARM“:
Ideation
Substance Abuse
Purposelessness
Anxiety
Trapped
Hopelessness
Withdrawal
Anger
Recklessness
Mood Changes
If you know someone going through any of these warning signs, take it seriously. Listen to them, provide genuine support, don’t leave them alone and reach out for professional help. You are capable of saving a life.
Aftermath is here to help your family through the tough times
In the tragic event of a suicide, there will likely be blood and other elements to clean up. It can not only be emotionally traumatic for a family member to clean their loved one, but clean up also comes with health risks — bloodborne pathogens, bacterial infection, and other possible biohazards. It’s best to contact professional bioremediation specialists to clean, sanitize and disinfect the site.
Aftermath Services is a nationwide trauma cleanup company committed to quickly, safely, and professionally remediate your home to help you move past the tragedy. With more than 20 years of experience, we are the industry leader in bioremediation, and we are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help families in need. We are mindful of the emotional trauma, so we arrive in vehicles that are discreetly marked to protect your confidentiality and privacy. Contact us online or call 877-698-5580.
Sources:
https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/
https://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcause.html
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db241.htm
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml
http://www.suicidology.org/resources/warning-signs
