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Suicide Information
“Much of the work of suicide prevention must occur at the community level, where human relationships breath life into public policy…I encourage you to strive by every means possible to offer effective suicide and crisis prevention/intervention services to the people in the region,”
-- David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., Surgeon General
There are only a few who escape being touched in some way by the
tragedy of suicide. The ever increasing rate of suicide in the United
States has prompted a National Strategy, spearheaded by Dr. David
Satcher. His strategy is a call for action from all sectors to help
prevent these premature deaths.
We see ourselves as an important part in Dr. Satcher's strategy. CrisisLink seeks to prevent these tragedies by providing immediate support and resources for life crises, distress and suicide. Please review our programs and services.
Here are some facts about this national epidemic.
Suicide Among Youth
- Suicide is the third leading cause of youth death.
- Gay and lesbian youth are four times more likely to kill themselves than their straight counterparts.
- Suicidal behaviors often are a result of multiple social, economic, family, and mental health factors.
- A firearm is the most commonly used method of suicide by persons under age 24.
Suicide Among the Elderly
- The highest suicide rates of any age group occur among persons aged 65 years and older
- There is an average of one suicide among the elderly every 90 minutes.
- Risk factors include a higher prevalence of depression and social isolation.
Suicide Among the Military
- Suicides among active duty and veteran military personnel have skyrocketed since 2003.
- In 2007 alone, 2,100 soldiers in the Army attempted suicide; more than a hundred completed. That's an average of over 5 soldiers attempting suicide every day in the Army alone.
- 1 in 5 people who complete suicide in the US are military veterans.
Suicide Among Diverse Populations
- African-American male youth have shown the largest increase in suicide rates since 1980 compared to any other youth group by age and race.
- Among Native Americans and African-Americans, the highest suicide rates occur during the adolescent and young adult years.
- African-American women have the lowest suicide rates among all ethnicities and age groups.