| Suicide is a tragic and potentially preventable public | | | | young adults, with seven times as many deaths |
| health problem. In 2000, suicide was the 11th leading | | | | among men as among women. |
| cause of death in the U.S. Specifically, 10.6 out of | | | | Older Adults |
| every 100,000 persons died by suicide. The total | | | | Older adults are disproportionately likely to die by |
| number of suicides was 29,350, or 1.2 percent of all | | | | suicide. Comprising only 13 percent of the U.S. |
| deaths. Suicide deaths outnumber homicide deaths by | | | | population, individuals age 65 and older accounted for |
| five to three. It has been estimated that there may | | | | 18 percent of all suicide deaths in 2000. Among the |
| be from 8 to 25 attempted suicides per every suicide | | | | highest rates (when categorized by gender and race) |
| death. The alarming numbers of suicide deaths and | | | | were white men age 85 and older: 59 deaths per |
| attempts emphasize the need for carefully designed | | | | 100,000 persons, more than five times the national |
| prevention efforts. | | | | U.S. rate of 10.6 per 100,000. |
| Suicidal behavior is complex. Some risk factors vary | | | | Attempted Suicides |
| with age, gender, and ethnic group and may even | | | | Overall, there may be between 8 and 25 attempted |
| change over time. The risk factors for suicide | | | | suicides for every suicide death; the ratio is higher in |
| frequently occur in combination. Research has shown | | | | women and youth and lower in men and the elderly.2 |
| that more than 90 percent of people who kill | | | | Risk factors for attempted suicide in adults include |
| themselves have depression or another diagnosable | | | | depression, alcohol abuse, cocaine use, and separation |
| mental or substance abuse disorder, often in | | | | or divorce. Risk factors for attempted suicide in |
| combination with other mental disorders. Also, | | | | youth include depression, alcohol or other drug use |
| research indicates that alterations in | | | | disorder, physical or sexual abuse, and disruptive |
| neurotransmitters such as serotonin are associated | | | | behavior. As with people who die by suicide, many |
| with the risk for suicide. Diminished levels of this brain | | | | people who make serious suicide attempts have |
| chemical have been found in patients with depression, | | | | co-occurring mental or substance abuse disorders. |
| impulsive disorders, a history of violent suicide | | | | The majority of suicide attempts are expressions of |
| attempts, and also in postmortem brains of suicide | | | | extreme distress and not just harmless bids for |
| victims. | | | | attention. A suicidal person should not be left alone |
| Adverse life events in combination with other risk | | | | and needs immediate mental health treatment. |
| factors such as depression may lead to suicide. | | | | Prevention |
| However, suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal | | | | Preventive efforts to reduce suicide should be based |
| responses to stress. Many people have one or more | | | | on research that shows which risk and protective |
| risk factors and are not suicidal. Other risk factors | | | | factors can be modified, as well as which groups of |
| include: prior suicide attempt; family history of mental | | | | people are appropriate for the intervention. In |
| disorder or substance abuse; family history of suicide; | | | | addition, prevention programs must be carefully |
| family violence, including physical or sexual abuse; | | | | tested to determine if they are safe, truly effective, |
| firearms in the home; incarceration; and exposure to | | | | and worth the considerable cost and effort needed |
| the suicidal behavior of others, including family | | | | to implement and sustain them. |
| members, peers, or even in the media. | | | | Many interventions designed to reduce suicidality also |
| Gender Differences | | | | include the treatment of mental and substance abuse |
| Suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for | | | | disorders. Because older adults, as well as women |
| males and the 19th leading cause of death for | | | | who die by suicide, are likely to have seen a primary |
| females in 2000. More than four times as many men | | | | care provider in the year prior to their suicide, |
| as women die by suicide, although women report | | | | improving the recognition and treatment of mental |
| attempting suicide during their lifetime about three | | | | disorders and other suicide risk factors in primary |
| times as often as men. Suicide by firearm is the most | | | | care settings may be one avenue to prevent suicides |
| common method for both men and women, | | | | among these groups. |
| accounting for 57 percent of all suicides in 2000. | | | | Recently, the manufacturer of the medication |
| White men accounted for 73 percent of all suicides | | | | clozapine received the first ever Food and Drug |
| and 80 percent of all firearm suicides. | | | | Administration indication for effectiveness in |
| Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults | | | | preventing suicide attempts among persons with |
| In 2000, suicide was the third leading cause of death | | | | schizophrenia. Additional promising pharmacologic and |
| among 15- to 24-year-olds-10.4 of every 100,000 | | | | psychosocial treatments for suicidal individuals are |
| persons in this age group-following unintentional | | | | currently being tested. |
| injuries and homicide. Suicide was also the 3rd leading | | | | If someone is suicidal, he or she must not be left |
| cause of death among children ages 10 to 14, with a | | | | alone. Try to get the person to seek help |
| rate of 1.5 per 100,000 children in this age group. The | | | | immediately from his or her doctor or the nearest |
| suicide rate for adolescents ages 15 to 19 was 8.2 | | | | hospital emergency room, or call 911. It is also |
| deaths per 100,000 teenagers, including five times as | | | | important to limit the person's access to firearms, |
| many males as females. Among people 20 to 24 | | | | medications, or other lethal methods for suicide. |
| years of age, the suicide rate was 12.8 per 100,000 | | | | |