Suicide facts
- Suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans every year.
- Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
- There are twice as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.
- Between 1952 and 1995, suicide in young adults nearly tripled.
- Over half of all suicides occur in adult men, ages 25-65.
- Suicide rates in the United States are highest in the spring.
- Over half of all suicides are completed with a firearm.
- For young people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death.
- Suicide rates among the elderly are highest for those who are divorced or widowed.
- 80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.
- 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide.
- There are an estimated 8 to 25 attempted suicides to 1 completion.
- The highest suicide rate is among men over 85 years old: 65 per 100,000 persons.
- 1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 commit suicide each year.