September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month.
This annual campaign informs and engages health professionals and the general public about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide. GOBHI applauds this effort, and supports efforts throughout the United States in striving to reduce the stigma related to behavioral health needs. We take this opportunity to share several important data points and resources that can help make a difference in this key issue.
Data points:
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–34 and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.
LGBTQ+ community:
According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, it was estimated that between 5 and 10% of LGBT Youth, depending on age and sex groups, have attempted suicide, a rate 1.5-3 times higher than heterosexual youth.
In a national study, 40% transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt. 92% of these individuals reported having attempted suicide before the age of 25. (Trevor Project)
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. (Trevor Project)
Adult rates:
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the rate of suicide is the highest in middle-aged white men. In 2019, men died by suicide 3.63x as often as women.
White males accounted for 69.38% of suicide deaths in 2019. (Source: AFSP)
Racial-Ethnic Population Data:
In 2019, the highest U.S. age-adjusted suicide rate was among Whites (15.67) and the second highest rate was among American Indians and Alaska Natives (13.64). Rates found among Black or African Americans (7.04) and Asians and Pacific Islanders (7.04). Overall, across groups, the rate of suicide for non-Hispanics was 15.23 and the rate for Hispanics was 7.24 (AFSP). However, among pre-adolescent and adolescent youth, Latinas (Hispanic females) are at particularly high risk: high school Latinas had the highest rate of suicide attempts (15.1%) compared to their White (9.8%) and Black (10.2%) counterparts in a 2015 representative survey conducted by the CDC.
Recovery events are happening throughout the state to raise awareness about this topic, including recovery walks throughout the state. We encourage you to join the celebrations happening in your local community!
Immediate resources:
National Suicide Prevention Hot Line - 1-800-273-8255
Lines for Life?- 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
David Romprey Warm Line: 1-800-698-2392
Trevor project: 866-488-7386, text START to 678678, TrevorChat.org, TrevorSpace.org
NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness