For Every Suicide, Many More Think About It
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
For every person who takes their own life there are many more who contemplate or attempt suicide, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report released Thursday found every 15 minutes someone dies by suicide.
The rate of those who think about suicide is even higher, particularly in western states. The rates are highest in Utah, where 1 in 15 adults reported thoughts of suicide and 1 in 50 in Georgia.
Suicide attempts were highest in Rhode Island with 1 in 67 adults attempting suicide.
“Suicide is a tragedy for individuals, families, and communities. This report highlights that we have opportunities to intervene before someone dies by suicide,” Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC said in a statement.
The lowest rate of suicide attempts was in Delaware, with one in 1,000 adults saying they tried to end their lives.
More than 2.2 million adults across the country have reported making suicide plans in the past year. More than 1 million reported attempting suicide. Suicidal thoughts or plans were highest among young adults age 18 to 29 and significantly higher among females than males.
“Most people are uncomfortable talking about suicide, but this is not a problem to shroud in secrecy,” Frieden said. “We need to work together to raise awareness about suicide and learn more about interventions that work to prevent this public health problem.”