Suicide Statistics

Facts

Sources: WHO (2024), CDC WISQARS (2022), AFSP, The Trevor Project, VA.

• •Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States (CDC, 2022).
• •Men die by suicide nearly 4× more often than women, though women attempt more frequently.
• •Firearms are involved in over half of all suicide deaths in the U.S.
• •Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people aged 10–14 and 25–34 in the U.S.
• •Veterans die by suicide at a rate roughly 1.5× higher than non-veteran adults.
• •LGBTQ+ youth are more than 4× as likely to attempt suicide as their peers.
• •An estimated 90% of people who die by suicide had an underlying mental health condition.
• •For every suicide death, an estimated 135 people are deeply affected by the loss.
• •Most people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide.
• •Talking openly about suicide does NOT increase risk — it reduces it.
• •Asking someone directly if they're thinking about suicide can save their life.
• •988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in the U.S.
• •Means restriction (limiting access to lethal methods) is one of the most effective prevention strategies known.
• •Globally, over 77% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries (WHO).
• •Suicide rates have risen ~30% in the U.S. since 2000.
• •Loneliness and social isolation are major, modifiable risk factors.