Data & epidemiology

United States (recent)

48,824suicide deaths in 2024 (CDC / NCHS; rate 14.4 per 100,000)

14.3 millionU.S. adults with serious thoughts of suicide in the past year (2024 NSDUH via NIMH / CDC)

• About 4.6 million adults made a suicide plan; about 2.2 million attempted suicide in the past year (2024 NSDUH).
• Past-year serious thoughts were reported by 5.5% of adults overall; highest among ages 18–25 (12.6%) (NIMH / 2024 NSDUH).
• CDC notes suicide rates rose roughly 36% from 2000–2022; deaths remain a leading cause of death.
• In a 2023 CDC rapid survey, 42.4% of adults said they personally knew someone who died by suicide.

Sources: CDC Facts About Suicide↗ · CDC Suicide Data↗ · NIMH Suicide Statistics↗ · NCHS FastStats↗

Worldwide

• WHO estimates about 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021.
• Suicide was the third leading cause of death among people ages 15–29 globally that year.
• About 73% of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Source: WHO Suicide fact sheet↗ · WHO Suicide worldwide in 2021↗

Myths vs facts

• Myth: Asking about suicide plants the idea.
  Fact: Reviews and trials find screening/asking does not increase ideation; it can reduce distress. Naming it is safe.
• Myth: Only people with a diagnosed mental illness are at risk.
  Fact: Mental illness raises risk, but stress, loss, isolation, pain, substance use, and access to lethal means also matter. Many with risk factors never attempt.
• Myth: People who talk about it are just seeking attention.
  Fact: Talking is often a bid for help. Take it seriously.
• Myth: Once someone is suicidal, nothing helps.
  Fact: Brief interventions (safety planning, caring contacts, treatment engagement) and therapy reduce risk of suicidal behavior for many people. See Evidence & studies.

Asking/iatrogenic risk: Dazzi et al., Psychological Medicine (2014); DeCou & Schumann meta-analysis (2018); Gould et al., JAMA (2005). Risk factors overview: NIMH Suicide FAQ↗

Who is affected

Risk is uneven across groups. CDC and NIMH note elevated rates among some American Indian / Alaska Native communities, veterans, people in rural areas, certain occupations, and LGBTQ+ youth for thoughts/behaviors. Young adults show the highest rates of past-year serious thoughts in NSDUH. This is not destiny for any group — it is a call for targeted support and access to care.

Related reading: Men’s mental health · Depression · Raleigh local help