Suicide Survey Statistics

Suicide is complex and has many varied risked factors. Attempts are most common between the ages of 16-18 [2]. Females are more likely to attempt and contemplate suicide, but males are more likely to complete suicide attempts [2]. Native Americans suffer from the highest rates of suicide [2]. Besides the secular characteristics of suicide, there are some

Among American civilians, whites have historically and significantly led the way in the rates of suicides. Although leveling off after the 1990’s, the rate of white suicides has still been almost twice as much as minority groups. It has also been shown that males commit suicide significantly more than females.

Suicide was seen as a just way to die if one was faced with unendurable suffering - be it physical or emotional”. Throughout time, suicide has been viewed and dealt with in countless ways. Recently in America, the problem has grown increasingly. In the past decade, suicide rates have been on the incline; especially among men. According to the New York Times (2013), “From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans ages 35 to 64 rose by nearly 30 percent… The suicide rate for middle-aged men was 27.3 deaths per 100,000, while for women it was 8.1 deaths per 100,000”. A 30 percent increase with an average of 19 more male suicides than female suicides is certainly an issue for both genders, and an epidemic for men. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (n.d.), found that in 2010, 38,364 suicides were reported, with 78.9% being men. The economic recession, unemployment, and various other factors are speculated to be responsible for this incline in male suicide. As of 2010, an estimated 30,308 men ended their own lives, and it seems as if there is a great risk of that number increasing each year.

Temporal Trends and Geographic Patterns of Teen Suicide in Alaska, written by Bradford D. Gessner, reported the findings of a study on teen suicide rates in Alaska. Using death certificates and U.S. census data to record trends in suicide rates among Alaskan teens ages 14-19, it was found that the teen suicide rate was 31.5 per 100,000 persons each year. The study tested three hypotheses, the first being that the overall suicide rate of Alaska teens ages 14-19 during 1979-1993 would vary according to residence, gender, race, and

"Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention." National Institutes of Health. June 26, 2008. National Institute for Mental Health. 18 Nov 2008 .

Over the past decade suicide rates have been either stagnant or have been decreasing over all of the demographics of people. One demographic of people's suicide rate, on the other hand, has risen at a substantial rate. Scientists and researchers have just started studying this trend and have yet to draw one specific reason on why middle aged white males suicide rates are climbing. The suicide rate for this demographic of people has just surpassed the deaths by automobile accidents. This recent epidemic has got many researchers and scientists asking the question of “why?”.

Since 2012 there has been a significant increase in suicides, both fatal and non-fatal among individuals ages 12-21. A fatal case is defined as “a youth who died by suicide” (Crosby et al., 2013, p. 7). A non-fatal case is defined as “a youth who attempted but did not die by suicide” (Crosby et al., 2013, p. 7). On average, Delaware typically experiences four suicides total in both counties annually. Between January 1 and May 4, 2012, Delaware has experienced 11 fatal attempts and 116 non-fatal attempts between the ages of 12-21.

Healthy People 2020 set a goal of reducing the number of completed suicides among the adult population by ten percent. This is a reoccurring theme from Healthy People 2010, where the goal was to reduce the number of suicides from 10.5 to 4.8 per 100,000. Unfortunately, from 2003 to 2013, rate of death from suicide has steadily increased to the current rate of 13.0 per 100,000 deaths (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). The goal of Healthy People 2020 is to improve the health of our Nation over the next ten years, from a baseline set of data (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Though suicide is not an illness, it typically is an untreated or undermanaged mental illness that results in a person resorting to

American Indians have the highest suicide rates in Montana and make up 7% of the population (Uken, 2012, p. 3). The high unemployment and substance abuse is shown to be a major factor (Uken, 2012, p. 3).There is a shortage of employment all over Montana, not just pertaining to the reservations. This shortage and not having enough mental healthcare professionals to cover all of the small towns in Montana, limits people being seen and treated (Uken, 2012, p.4,para.6).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2013 there were 113 suicides each day or one every 13 minutes. Although the true number of deaths from suicide may be higher due to some deaths may be recorded as “accidental” (gateway). Adolescent boys 15 to 19 years old had a completed suicide rate that was 3 times greater than females; however, rate of suicide attempts was twice as high among females given that they tend to use less lethal methods (gateway). Equally important, suicide affects youth of all races and socioeconomic groups, including sexual minority youth such as lesbian, gay, bisexuals, and Transgenders (gateway). Also, other high-risk groups may include American Indian and Alaska Natives, rural population, and active or retired military personnel.

Attention Getter: Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. surpassed by accidents and homicide. (According to Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention)

This is a critical appraisal of the article A Tool for the Culturally Competent Assessment of Suicide: The Cultural Assessment of Risk for Suicide (CARS) Measure with the purpose of improving my research and critical reading skills.

He also found that suicide risk to be lower in communities that Alaska Natives were a minority in, mixed community populations. With everything combined, Berman’s findings suggested that suicides risks vary differently among communities, but the factors could be more complicated than he anticipated. At the end, Berman states that “alcohol control appears ineffective as prevention policy but is more likely to be selected by communities with higher suicide rates.

One of the biggest public issues we have in this nation with suicide, is Montana’s suicide rate. It is such a big public issue because they have stayed in the top 5 for suicide rates for 35 years (Uken). The public issue of mental illness is what causes

Suicide is a main source of death around the world and ranks among the three main causes of death among young adults aged between 15-45 years. Indeed, a response to this continuous worldwide issue, the World Health Organization called for the prevention of suicide (WHO, 2015). Several studies have evaluated some of the contributing factors, however, the connection between suicide and the evaluated factors is conclusively positive or negative.