One component of learning how to prevent suicide is understanding the impact that it may have in your home state and nationally. The facts and statistics noted below are intended to equip you with general knowledge on the topic of suicide to help guide your prevention efforts. This is NH specific suicide data. For national data, please see the link under Sources below.
Suicide Facts
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death in New Hampshire (after accidental injury) for individuals age 10 to 34. It is the fourth leading cause of death in NH for individuals age 35 to 54 (after accidental injury, cancer, and heart disease).*
- Nationally there were 33,300 reported suicide deaths in 2006, approximately 5,000 of which were veterans.*
- As a group, white males age 85 and older have the highest suicide rate in NH (66.82 per 100,000).*
- Individuals age 65 and up represent just 12 percent of the NH population, however, they account for more than 15.75 percent of the suicide deaths.*
- More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, and influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED.*
- Males die by suicide at a rate 4x higher than females.**
- Females attempt suicide at a rate 1.5x higher than males.**
- According to the CDC, 90% of all people who die by suicide have either a mental illness or substance abuse disorder.
- SAMHSA reports that as of 2008, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – answers an average of 47,500 calls per month from individuals in crisis and/or seeking resources.
*Data Source: CDC WISQARS: 2002-2006
**Data Source: SPRC US Data Sheet: 1999-2005
Youth Suicide Behavior in NH
2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of NH High School Students reports indicate:
- 24.6% of High School youth surveyed felt so sad and hopeless for two or more weeks in the past year that they stopped doing their usual activities
- 13.7% of High School youth surveyed seriously considered a suicide attempt in the past year
- 9.2% of High School youth surveyed reported having made a suicide plan in the past year and
- 5.5% of High School youth surveyed reported having attempted suicide in the past year
Sources of Data on Suicide
CDC WISQARS
NH Suicide Prevention Data Reports
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
