Hispanic Populations

Hispanic or Latino is defined as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.1 On this web page we use the term Hispanic. In 2018, people of Hispanic origin composed an estimated 18.3% of the U.S. population.2 

At 7.5 per 100,000, the age-adjusted suicide rate for Hispanic populations was more than half the overall U.S. suicide rate of 13.5 per 100,000 in 2020.​2

Among Hispanic populations, suicide rates remain somewhat steady starting at age 15 through the lifespan. This is a different pattern than is seen in the overall U.S. population, where suicide rates increase starting at age 15 until age 45 to 54, decline until age 74, and begin to increase at age 75.​2

The suicide death rate for Hispanic men is more than four times the rate for Hispanic women. The suicide death rate for the overall U.S. population is more than double that of non-Hispanic populations for both males and females.2

When Hispanic adults are compared to the overall U.S. population, similar percentages report past-year serious thoughts of suicide, a past-year suicide plan, or a past-year suicide attempt.1

Among high school youth, a smaller percentage of Hispanic youth report seriously considering attempting suicide or making a suicide plan in the past year than the overall U.S. population. The percentage of youth who attempt suicide is similar to the overall U.S. population. However, a slightly higher percentage of Hispanic youth have required treatment after attempting suicide.3

 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, Rockville, MD. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2020-nsduh-detailed-tables
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2021). 1999-2020 Wide Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (WONDER), Multiple Cause of Death files [Data file]. Retrieved from http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2021). 1991-2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data [Data file]. Retrieved from http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/

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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.