Suicide Statistics

If you are in crisis, dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in Connecticut. 2-1-1 is certified by the American Association of Suicidology. If you live outside of Connecticut use the National Hopeline number which is 1-800-784-2433.

In the United States . . .

• 32,439 individuals completed suicide in 2004…that’s 88.6 people each day…one person approximately every 16.2 minutes.
• Of those 32,439 individuals, approximately 4,316 were youth between 15 and 24 years old
• Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States; however, it is the 8th leading cause of death for males and the 3rd leading cause of death for youth (ages 15-24), exceeded only by accidents and homicides. Homicide is the 15th leading cause of death. More Americans kill themselves than are killed by others.
• Annually, 811,000 Americans have attempted to kill themselves. There is one attempt every 39 seconds.
• Youth have the second highest rate of completed suicide: for every 100-200 young people who attempt suicide, one successfully completes the act.
• Approximately 11.8 youth complete suicide each day…that’s one young person every 2 hours and 12 minutes.
• The elderly (ages 65+) have the highest rate of completed suicides. They are at a 50% higher rate than any other age group. Approximately 5,198 elders completed suicide in 2004.For every four older adults who attempt suicide, one successfully completes the act.
• Approximately 14.2 elderly individuals complete suicide each day.
• Most youth complete suicide in their homes between the hours of 3 p.m. and midnight.
• Women are three times more likely to attempt suicide then men, but men are four times more likely to complete suicide then women.
• Firearms are the most common method used for completing suicide (51.6% of all suicides were completed with a firearm); that is approximately 16,750 individuals who used firearms in 2004.
• American Indians and Alaskan Native youths have the highest rate of suicide for ages 15-24.
• Suicide rates were highest in the pacific states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington).
• Each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people; thus, if there is a suicide every 16.2 minutes, then there are 6 new survivors every 16.2 minutes as well.
• Of the 32,439 documented completed suicides in 2004: 25,566 were males & 6,873 were females; 29,251 were white, 2,019 were black and 3,188 were non whites.
• The elderly made up 12.4% of the population in 2004 but committed 16% of the suicides. Suicides comprise 13.3% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds.

SOURCE:

• American Association of Suicidology, 2004 Summary Data; www.suicidology.org, prepared by McIntosh, John L., PHD, Professor of Psychology, Indiana University South Bend.
• Kochanek, K.D., Murphy, S.L., Anderson, R.N., & Scott, C. (2004) Deaths: Final data for 2004
• National Center for Health Statistics; www.cdc.gov/ncns/fastats/suicide.ntn; United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2004)

In 2006 in Connecticut . . .

• 275 individuals completed suicide in 2006…that’s approximately one person every 1.3 days.
• Of those 275 individuals who completed suicide in 2006:
  • 222 were men
  • 53 were women
  • 29 were older adults ages 65 and over
  • 18 were older adults (60-64 years of age)
  • 33 were youths between the ages of 15 and 24
  • (1) 13 year old youth (male)
• Hanging was the most common method used by Connecticut residents to complete suicide in 2006 (used in approximately 35% of documented suicides) followed by handguns at (29%). Among youths, hanging was the most common method used (58%).
• It is estimated that each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other individuals; thus, in 2006 approximately 1,650 Connecticut residents were intimately affected by a loved one’s suicide.

Source:

• Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Deaths, Suicides (Instance Detail),
  January through December 2006.