Suicide Awareness

If you or someone you know has a suicidal crisis, call 988. When there’s an imminent risk of harm to someone’s life, call 911 and state it’s a mental health crisis. If police are involved, ask for a mental health officer.

Suicide crisis hotlines

Resources from NAMI

Risk Factors and Warning Signs for Suicide

Suicide Warning Signs (printable pdf)

What You Need to Know About Youth Suicide

Articles:

• 5 Common Myths About Suicide Debunked

• How to Ask Someone About Suicide (tips for conversations)

• How to Help Yourself and Others with Suicidal Ideation

• How to Talk (and Listen) to Someone Experiencing Suicidal Thoughts

• How to Talk to Your Teen About Suicide

• Navigating Health Insurance Following A Suicide Attempt (pdf)

• What to Know If a Loved One is At Risk for Suicide

Find more resources from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Key Facts

• 1 in 20 U.S. adults (5%) have serious thoughts of suicide each year.

• About 1 person dies by suicide in the U.S. every 11 minutes.

• 79% of all people who die by suicide in the U.S. are male.

• Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide.

• In the U.S., suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-14 and among people ages 15-24, and the 11th leading cause of death overall.

Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, by U.S. demographic group:

• Non-Hispanic Multiracial: 12%

• Non-Hispanic White: 5%

• Hispanic or Latino: 5%

• Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native: 4.7%

• Non-Hispanic Asian: 4.2%

• Non-Hispanic Black: 4%

• Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: 2.6%

• Female: 5.5%

• Male: 4.5%

• Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 18%

Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide among U.S. youth populations:

• High school students: 20%

• LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-24: 39%

• Young adults ages 18-25: 12.2%

Data found on NAMI.org.