Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay and while I usually wouldn't participate in hashtags, this one is of particular importance to me. Here's some of the most important statistics regarding suicide in our society today.
In the last 20 years suicide rates have increased by around 25%. More than half of those who died by suicide, had not been diagnosed with a mental health condition. There are only three causes of death which are increasing year over year: drug overdoses, Alzheimer's, and suicide.
Women are four times more likely to attempt suicide, while men are five times more likely to die by suicide. Men are far more likely to use lethal means (firearm, hanging) while women are more likely to use para-lethal means such as self-poisoning with medications.
In 2015, 36% of teens reported feeling desperately sad or hopeless, for girls the rates were higher - around 45%. Teens who used smartphones for more than 5 hours per day were 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who reported one hour of daily use.
87% of teenage girls used social media every day, they were 14% more likely to be depressed than those who used social media less frequently. While these could definitely be correlations and not causation, it's definitely worth noting.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-24. Every day, there are an average of over 3041 attempts by young people aged 14-18. Suicide rates seem to spike around young adulthood, going from 1 in 100,000 children aged 10-14 to 13 in 100,000 young adults.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual kids are 3x more likely than straight kids to attempt suicide at some point in their lives. Medically serious attempts at suicide are 4x more likely among LGBTQ youth than other young people.
41% of trans adults said they had attempted suicide, in one study. The same study found that 61% of trans people who were victims of physical assault had attempted suicide. The study also found the attempted suicide rate remained the same post-operation.
LGBTQ youth who come from families that reject or do not accept them are over 8x more likely to attempt suicide than those whose families do accept them.
Sucide rates vary by race and ethnicity, with the suicide rate among white people being 2.5x higher than black, hispanic and asian suicide rates.
Interestingly, American Indians/Alaskan Natives have a suicide rate 2x higher than white people.
Interestingly, American Indians/Alaskan Natives have a suicide rate 2x higher than white people.
However, older white males (aged over 50) currently have the highest suicide rate of any demographic, older individuals have fewer suicide attempts per suicide, and have often spent time planning it out. Widowhood, serious medical illness, and social isolation are common factors.
I don't have an agenda here, and there is no political bias in this thread, I want to show you the epidemic of suicide among various demographics. We need to take care of ourselves, as well as take care of others. The greatest stories are always full of darkness and suffering.
