Get the Facts
Talking about suicide does not cause someone to be suicidal. Suicide occurs across all age, economic, social, racial and ethnic boundaries. Suicidal behavior is complex and not a response to one problem that a person is experiencing. Some risk factors vary with age, gender, or ethnic group and may occur in combination or change over time.
Suicide Statistics
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC)
- Every day, approximately 130 Americans die by suicide. (CDC)
- There is one death by suicide in the US every 11 minutes. (CDC)
- Depression affects 20-25% of Americans ages 18+ in a given year. (CDC)
- Suicide takes the lives of over 48,500 Americans every year. (CDC)
- The highest suicide rates in the US are among Whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives.
- Only half of all Americans experiencing an episode of major depression receive treatment. (NAMI)
- 80% -90% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully using therapy and/or medication. (TADS study)
- An estimated 285,000 each year become suicide survivors (AAS).
- There is one suicide for every estimated 25 suicide attempts. (CDC)
- There is one suicide for every estimated 4 suicide attempts in the elderly. (CDC)
- Allegany County's Age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 people is as follow:
Warning Signs
According to the National Institute of Mental Health the behaviors listed below may be some of the signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
Talking About:
Feeling:
Changes in Behavior, Such As:
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
Talking About:
- Wanting to die
- Great guilt or shame
- Being a burden to others
Feeling:
- Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
- Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage
- Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Changes in Behavior, Such As:
- Making a plan or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from friends, saying good bye, giving away important items, or making a will
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- Using drugs or alcohol more often
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
Risk Factors |
Protective Factors |
|
Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life. The more risk factors, the higher the risk.
|
Risk factors can be balanced out to a certain extent by the presence of protective factors. There are a range of protective factors that can help to reduce suicidal behaviour, including:
|
