Facts and Resources

Suicide Is a Leading Killer in America

sadThe following information about the nature and prevalence of suicide in America may surprise you. The figures below are are an excerpt from the official U.S. suicide statistics for 2010, as compiled by the American Association of Suicidology. Please visit the American Association of Suicidology website to view additional national suicide statistics.

  • Average of 1 person every 13.7 minutes killed themselves
  • Average of 1 old person every 1 hour and 28 minutes killed themselves
  • Average of 1 young person every 1 hour and 54 minutes killed themselves. (If the 274 suicides below age 15 are included, 1 young person every 1 hour and 48 minutes)
  • 3.7 male deaths by suicide for each female death by suicide
  • Suicide ranks 10th as a cause of death; Homicide ranks 16th
  • 959,100 annual attempts in U.S. (using 25:1 ratio); 2010 SAMHSA study: 1.1 million adults (18 and up)
  • 3 female attempts for each male attempt
  • Based on the 796,672 suicides from 1986 through 2010 and using 6 survivors per suicide, estimated that the number of survivors of suicides in the U.S. is 4.78 million (1 of every 65 Americans in 2010); number grew by at least 230,184 in 2010
  • If there is a suicide every 13.7 minutes, then there are at least 6 new survivors every 13.7 minutes as well

Source: Official statistics compiled by the American Association of Suicidology