Suicide Statistics and Prevention

Suicide is an important and preventable public health concern. Approximately one million people die from suicide each year worldwide. In youth, ages 15-24, suicide is the third leading cause of death, with a rate of 10 suicides per 100,000 youth. Additionally, there are 100-200 suicide attempts for every one suicide in youth ages 15-24, and every year, one in seven high school students seriously considers suicide. Suicide attempts are higher among young women, but completed suicide attempts happen more often in young men.

The government suggests reducing risk factors as a goal for suicide prevention, but the most prevalent form of suicide prevention is suicide crisis hotlines. While hotlines attempt to prevent the actual crisis from occurring, they do not address the risk factors that lead to the crisis. STRIDES aims to address several of these risk factors, while providing opportunity for building protective factors as well.

Suicide risk factors among high-school aged youth include but are not limited to: depression, having problems in school, substance abuse, feelings of hopelessness or isolation, lack of social support, low self-esteem, homelessness, or LGBT sexual orientation. Many students at continuation or alternative high schools experience several of these risk factors.

Suicide protective factors for youth include perceived social support, positive coping skills, and sport participation. As a suicide prevention program, STRIDES aims to build all of these protective factors through training as a team for the STRIDES 5k run/walk and providing participating youth with interactive group activities to build positive coping skills.

As part of our program, STRIDES hopes to increase community awareness about suicide in youth. By being aware of the warning signs in youth and the resources available, YOU can prevent suicide.

Warning signs include:

• Thinking or talking about suicide
• Substance use or abuse (increased use or change in substance)
• Purposelessness or hopelessness (no sense of purpose or belonging; nothing to live for)
• Anger
• Feeling trapped or feeling like there is no way out
• Withdrawal from family, friends, work, school, activities, hobbies
• Anxiety, restlessness, irritability, agitation
• Recklessness or high risk-taking behavior
• Dramatic changes in mood (suddenly happier/calmer after severe depression)
  

Specific behaviors parents/friends can look for:

• Giving things away, such as prized possessions
• Visiting or calling people one cares about after having been socially withdrawn
• Talking about suicide
• Making arrangements
  

Websites with more information about suicide prevention and youth suicide:

www.save.org
www.sprc.org
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org