Suicidal Thoughts and Suicide Attempts

Of those who have serious thoughts of suicide, many fewer make suicide plans. Fewer still report suicide attempts or die by suicide.1,2

Across all age groups, a greater percentage of adults think about suicide than make a suicide plan or attempt suicide.3

In 2021, females were at greater risk for suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and medically treated suicide attempts than males. However, in 2021, males died by suicide at a higher rate than females (22.8 per 100, 000 and 5.7 per 100,000, respectively).3

In 2021, the percentages of female high school youth who felt sad, seriously considered suicide, made a suicide plan, or attempted suicide were higher than the percentage of male high school youth and male and female high school youth combined. Rates of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts were higher among high school youth than among adults in general.4

References

  1. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2021). 2020 National survey on drug use and health: Detailed tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2020-nsduh-detailed-tables 
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). 1999-2020 Wide ranging online data for epidemiological research (WONDER), multiple cause of death files [Data file]. National Center for Health Statistics. http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
  3. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2023). 2021 National survey on drug use and health: Detailed tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-detailed-tables
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). 1991-2021 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data [Data file]. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/
The charts and graphs in this section are also available as a PowerPoint slide set. Feel free to use this slide set to deliver a presentation about the scope of the suicide problem.