Facts About Adult Suicide

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (English)988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Spanish)
Visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Notice: The Office of Suicide Prevention website is informational and not intended as a crisis response or hotline. 

Suicide Facts

  • In 2017, over 47,000 people in the United States died by suicide. About every 11 minutes someone in this country intentionally ends his or her life; it is estimated that an attempt is made about every 27 seconds.  
  • Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2017; homicide ranked 16th. Over twice as many people die by suicide than homicide in the United States.
  • In 2017, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, but was the 8th leading cause of death for Nevadans.
  • Nevada ranked #1 for over a decade prior to 2000. In 2017, Nevada ranked 11th in the United States. 
  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Nevadans ages 10-34 year. 
  • Each suicide leaves at least six bereaved family members and friends. Thus there were over 283,000 loss survivors in 2017. 
  • For every teen and young adult who dies by suicide, it is estimated 100-200 teens have attempted. 
  • Survivors of suicide are at a higher risk for suicide than the general public. 
  • Many suicides are preventable. 
  • Prevention is often a matter of a caring person with the right knowledge being available in the right place at the right time.

References