Facts about Suicide in the U.S.

Listed below are basic facts on suicide in the United States, based upon 2001 data compiled by the American Association of Suicidology.

 Suicide is the 11^th leading cause of death in the U.S. and 3^rd for young people.  An average of 1 person every 17.2 minutes completes suicide.

Suicide affects all ethnic, economic, social, and age groups.

The suicide rate for the elderly (ages 85 and up) is higher than that of any other age group.

Men complete suicide 4.1 times more than women, but women attempt suicide 3 times more often than men.

White males have the highest suicide rate of all race/gender groups.

African Americans and Hispanics exhibit lower suicide rates than Whites.

It is estimated that 1 out of 64 Americans are survivors of suicide.

Suicide rates increased slightly in 2001 after declines for six consecutive years.

Firearms are the most common method of suicide among all age groups (male, female, elderly, youth, white, and non-white.

Suicide rates are highest in Mountain regions and lowest in Mid-Atlantic regions.

Among all U.S. states, New Mexico ranked #1 at a rate of 19.8 and New York ranked # 51 at a 6.6 suicide rate.

Surviving family members not only suffer the loss of a loved one to suicide, but are also themselves at high risk for suicide and emotional problems.