Guide Note

Suicide is the act of taking one's own life. Suicide accounts for about 1% of yearly deaths in the United States and is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-24.¹ Approximately one in ten of those who threaten suicide will go on to kill themselves and one in three people who attempt suicide will repeat the attempt within a year.²

Fast Facts

1. In 2005, approximately 32,000 Americans committed suicide³
2. American suicide rates have changed little in the past 40 years³
3. 90% of those who commit suicide have some sort of mental health disorder³
4. Men who attempt suicide are more likely to be successful than women²
5. 73% of those who commit suicide are white males¹
6. Up to one million people commit suicide worldwide every year⁴

1. Talking about or threatening to commit suicide
2. Alcohol or drug use
3. Giving away possessions
4. Engaging in dangerous behavior
5. Depression
6. Sudden behavioral changes
7. Lack of interest in the future⁵

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you or someone you know may be suicidal, please consult your doctor.