Suicide is a national public health issue. To begin to understand college student suicide, it is important to grasp the prevalence of suicide on both national and local levels.
National
According to the National Institute of Mental Health:
- In 2004, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 32,439 deaths.
- 1 The overall rate was 10.9 suicide deaths per 100,000 people.
- An estimated eight to 25 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death.
- According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
- Over 32,000 people in the United States die by suicide every year.
- Currently, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States.
- A person dies by suicide about every 16 minutes in the United States. An attempt is estimated to be made once every minute.
- Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.
- There are four male suicides for every female suicide, but twice as many females as males attempt suicide.
- Every day, approximately 80 Americans take their own life, and 1,500 more attempt to do so.
Missouri
According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center:
- In 2004, ranked 22nd in the nations for most deaths by suicide
- Suicides, 1999-2003
- 10th ranking cause of death for the state
- Average of 699 residents died by suicide each year
- Crude suicide rate: 13.3 per 100,000
- Average of 2 suicides per day
College Students
According to The Jed Foundation:
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students
- Suicide attempt pose the greatest life-threatening danger for college women.
- The rate of suicide among young males has tripled since 1970.
- Almost 1,100 suicides are projected to occur on campuses this year.
- Among college students, 7.5 of every 100,000 take their own lives
- 4 out of 5 young adults who attempt suicide have given clear warnings.
- 18-24 year-olds think about suicide more often than any other age group, and one in twelve U.S. college students makes a suicide plan.
- The National College Health Risk Behavior Study found that 11.4% of students seriously consider attempting suicide.
- In 1998, suicide killed more young adults than AIDS, cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, birth defects, stroke, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.