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Suicide Facts

Here are some facts about this national epidemic.

Suicide Among Youth

• Suicide is the third leading cause of youth death.
• Gay and lesbian youth are four times more likely to kill themselves than their straight counterparts.
• Suicidal behaviors often are a result of multiple social, economic, family, and mental health factors.
• A firearm is the most commonly used method of suicide by persons under age 24.

Suicide Among the Elderly

• The highest suicide rates of any age group occur among persons aged 65 years and older
• There is an average of one suicide among the elderly every 90 minutes.
• Risk factors include a higher prevalence of depression and social isolation.

Suicide Among the Military

• Suicides among active duty and veteran military personnel have skyrocketed since 2003.
• In 2007 alone, 2,100 soldiers in the Army attempted suicide; more than a hundred completed. That's an average of over 5 soldiers attempting suicide every day in the Army alone.
• 1 in 5 people who complete suicide in the US are military veterans.

Suicide Among Diverse Populations

• African-American male youth have shown the largest increase in suicide rates since 1980 compared to any other youth group by age and race.
• Among Native Americans and African-Americans, the highest suicide rates occur during the adolescent and young adult years.
• African-American women have the lowest suicide rates among all ethnicities and age groups.

Download a Suicide Prevention Poster [Adobe Acrobat Reader required]