Download data on suicides in Massachusetts by demographics and year. This page also includes reporting on military & veteran suicide, and suicides during COVID-19.

South Korea currently has the highest overall suicide rate among OECD countries worldwide. The suicide rate among women in South Korea is significantly higher than that of women in any other country. Nevertheless, suicide is commonly more prevalent among men than women. Suicide in the U.S. The suicide rate in the United States has risen since the year 2000. As of 2021, there were around 14.1 deaths from suicide per 100,000 population. The suicide rate among men in the U.S. is over three times what it is for females, a considerable and troubling difference. The suicide rate among men increases with age, with the highest rates found among men aged 75 years and older. Adolescent suicide Adolescent suicide is always a serious and difficult topic. A recent survey found that around 30 percent of female high school students in the United States had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, compared to 14 percent of male students. On average, there are around 11 suicide deaths among adolescents per 100,000 population in the United States. The states with the highest rates of adolescent suicide include Idaho, Colorado, and Utah.

As of 2022, the U.S. states with the highest death rates from suicide were Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming. In Wyoming and Montana, there were around 29 and 28 suicide deaths per 100,000 population, respectively. In comparison, in New Jersey, the state with the lowest suicide death rate, there were only around eight suicide deaths per 100,000 population. Differences in suicide rates by gender In the United States, there is a vast difference in suicide rates between men and women, with rates over 3.5 times higher among men. However, rates of suicide for both men and women have increased over the past couple of decades. Among men, those aged 75 years and older have the highest suicide rates, with around 42 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021. Among women, those aged 45 to 64 years have the highest rates of suicide death with 8.2 deaths per 100,000 population. What is the most common method of suicide? In the United States, the most common method of suicide is with firearms, followed by suffocation and then poisoning. In 2022, there were around 27,032 suicide deaths from firearms in the United States, compared to 12,247 deaths from suffocation and 4,894 from drug poisoning. In 2021, firearms accounted for around 60 percent of suicide deaths among men. In comparison, around 35 percent of deaths from suicide among women were due to firearms, while suffocation and poisoning each accounted for 28 percent of such deaths.

Number of suicides, suicide rates and median registration delays, by local authority in England and Wales.

Over 170 thousand deaths due to suicides were recorded in India in 2022. Furthermore, majority of suicides were reported in the state of Tamil Nadu, followed by Rajasthan. The number of suicides that year had increased from the previous year. Some of the causes for suicides in the country were due to professional problems, abuse, violence, family problems, financial loss, sense of isolation and mental disorders.

Depressive disorders and suicide

As of 2015, over 322.48 million people worldwide suffered from some kind of depressive disorder. Furthermore, over 14 percent of the total population in India suffer from different forms of mental disorders as of 2017. There exists a positive correlation between the number of suicide mortality rates and people with select mental disorders as opposed to those without.

Risk factors for mental disorders

Every seventh person in India suffers from some form of mental disorder. Today, depressive disorders are regarded as the leading contributor not only to disease burden and morbidity worldwide, but even suicide if not addressed. In 2022, the leading cause for suicide deaths in India was due to family problems. The second leading cause was due to illness. Some of the risk factors, relative to developing mental disorders including depressive and anxiety disorders, include bullying victimization, poverty, unemployment, childhood sexual abuse and intimate partner violence.

Since the 1950s, the suicide rate in the United States has been significantly higher among men than women. In 2022, the suicide rate among men was almost four times higher than that of women. However, the rate of suicide for both men and women has increased gradually over the past couple of decades. Facts on suicide in the United States In 2022, the rate of suicide death in the United States was around 14 per 100,000 population. The suicide rate in the U.S. has generally increased since the year 2000, with the highest rates ever recorded in the years 2018 and 2022. In the United States, death rates from suicide are highest among those aged 45 to 64 years and lowest among younger adults aged 15 to 24. The states with the highest rates of suicide are Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming, while New Jersey and Massachusetts have the lowest rates. Suicide among men In 2023, around 4.5 percent of men in the United States reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Although this rate is lower than that of women, men still have a higher rate of suicide death than women. One reason for this may have to do with the method of suicide. Although firearms account for the largest share of suicide deaths among both men and women, firearms account for almost 60 percent of all suicides among men and just 35 percent among women. Suffocation and poisoning are the other most common methods of suicide among women, with the chances of surviving a suicide attempt from these methods being much higher than surviving an attempt by firearm. The age group with the highest rate of suicide death among men is by far those aged 75 years and over.

In 2023, South Korea's suicide rate reached 27.3 deaths per 100 thousand population. Although the suicide rate has declined compared to about 10 years ago, South Korea still has the highest suicide rate among member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Mental health in South KoreaIn the last decade, the population has been shaken by the suicides of many prominent South Korean politicians and celebrities. In South Korea, mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, along with financial hardships, have been identified as significant contributing factors that lead individuals to attempt suicide. According to a survey conducted in 2023, around 46 percent of South Korean respondents reported experiencing severe stress, making it the most commonly reported type of mental health problem that year. Nevertheless, very few people want to consult a psychiatrist because of the stigma attached to mental health issues. Suicide prevention In response to the escalating suicide rates, the government introduced its first suicide prevention program in 2004. Since then, several measures have been implemented to address this pressing issue. For instance, Seoul City initiated the "Bridge of Life" project on the Mapo Bridge, a well-known site for suicide attempts. The primary goal of the project was to provide comfort to individuals contemplating suicide by projecting uplifting messages and images on the bridge. In 2021, however, it was decided to remove the messages and slogans due to their limited impact. If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, it is essential to seek help. Many countries have suicide crisis or prevention lines that offer free advice and support in such situations. If you live in the United States, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by simply calling 988 to receive free and confidential support 24/7. If you live in South Korea you can call the suicide prevention hotline 109.

Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).

Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).

In 2021, there were 6,392 suicide deaths among veterans in the United States. From the period 2001 to 2021, the year 2018 saw the highest number of suicide deaths among veterans. This statistic displays the number of suicide deaths among veterans in the United States from 2001 to 2021.

Number of deaths and age-specific mortality rates for selected grouped causes, by age group and sex, 2000 to most recent year.

In 2023, Japan reported 17.6 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The country's suicide rate had shown a steady downwards trend over the past decade but began to rise again in 2020. The unexpected upward trend is likely to be connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.  What are the reasons behind Japan’s high suicide rates?  Historically, Japan’s high suicide rates were closely linked to the economic situation of individuals. While the majority of suicides in Japan stemmed from health reasons, existential worries and problems directly related to work also accounted for thousands of self-inflicted deaths in the past years. The most profound issue faced by employees in Japan leading to self-harm in the past decade has been exhaustion. An increasing pressure of retaining jobs by putting in more hours of overtime, while taking fewer holidays and sick days, were considered the main motivators behind the rising suicide numbers among office workers and employees. Occupational sudden mortality, known as karoshi ("death by overwork") is a well-known phenomenon in Japanese society. Besides physical pressure, mental stress from the workplace can cause karoshi. Suicide due to occupational stress or overwork is called karojisatsu ("overwork suicide") in Japan.  Which demographic groups are affected?  While middle-aged men were frequently portrayed as the highest-risk group for suicide in Japan, suicides among elderly and school children were recurrently picked up by the media. Financial anxiety, bullying, isolation, and the lack of a proficient mental healthcare system were only some factors contributing to the country’s high suicide rates among all age groups.

In 2023, over 21.8 thousand people in Japan died by suicide. The overall number of suicides had shown a steady downward trend over the past decade but began to rise again in 2020. The unexpected upward trend is likely to be connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Why Japanese men are more likely to die by suicide 

When looking at suicide numbers by gender, Japanese men are more likely to commit suicide compared to women. What are the main reasons for this tendency? Attitudes on traditional gender roles in Japan may have shifted in recent decades, but social change has since been slow. Men are still expected to focus on their careers and provide for the family. Hence, economic slumps are typically reflected in rising suicide figures among men, as failure to fulfill social expectations can lead to mental health issues, which in turn might trigger suicidal thoughts. As an example, the suicide figures increased only for men in 2009 as a result of the global banking crisis. Suicide resulting from work-related issues is also more common among men than among women.

 The impact of COVID-19 on female suicides

The impact of the coronavirus appeared to be more prevalent among women. The reasons were complex. For one, women who were victims of domestic violence were forced to spend more time at home with their abuser. Additionally, industries hit the hardest by the pandemic were those staffed predominantly by women, such as the hospitality, retail, and caregiving sectors. Women also might have had to juggle working from home while being responsible for childcare during school closure. Furthermore, Japan is undergoing a demographic change and rapidly shifting into a solo society, which resulted in more single women supporting themselves. As irregular employment is more common among female than male workers, women supporting themselves were more likely to face precarious financial situations amid the pandemic. Overall, women in Japan seemed to have felt the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic more severely and in more aspects of their daily lives compared to men.

In 2021, there were 3,769 deaths in Canada from suicide. This was a decrease from the year before in which 4,152 people died from suicide. The death rate from suicide in Canada in 2021 was 9.9 per 100,000 population, the lowest rate seen over the past two decades. Warning signs of suicide can include suicidal ideation, withdrawal from family and friends, increased alcohol or drug use, dramatic mood swings, and impulsive or reckless behavior.

Suicide by age Although suicide is more common among some age groups than others, mental health issues and suicide impact people of all ages. Of the 3,769 suicide deaths recorded in Canada in 2021, 344 were among those aged 30 to 34 years. This was the highest number of suicides among all age groups. However, those aged 50 to 54 years had the highest death rate from suicide at that time with 13.4 deaths per 100,000 population. The age group with the second highest suicide death rate was those aged 30 to 39 years, with a rate of 12.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

The mental health status of Canadians Most people who resort to suicide suffer from mental health issues, which is one reason why open discussion around mental health and access to mental health treatment are so important. In 2021, almost 12 percent of Canadians stated that their mental health was just fair or poor. The share of Canadians reporting fair or poor mental health has increased in recent years and hit a high in 2021, perhaps in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, almost 10 percent of Canadians now report that they have been diagnosed with a mood disorder such as depression, bipolar disorder, mania, or dysthymia. Depression is one of the most common mental health issues, but is also often easily treated through therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these.

In Canada, the province of Ontario had the highest number of suicide deaths among all Canadian provinces and territories in 2021. That year there were around 1,198 deaths from suicide in Ontario. There were a total of 3,769 suicide deaths in Canada at that time. This statistic shows the number of suicide deaths in Canada in 2021, by province or territory.

BackgroundSuicide is a leading cause of death among students in higher education, driven in large part by mental illness, but also mental wellness. Relatively few studies have examined the extent to which depression and flourishing/languishing interact in relation to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021; emerging adult students aged 18–29; N = 101,435), and calculated interaction contrast ratios to estimate the interaction between depression and flourishing/languishing on suicidal thoughts and behaviors, using an additive scale, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and food insecurity.ResultsWhen compared with students who were flourishing without depression, the students who were languishing without depression, and the students who were depressed but still flourishing had significantly greater odds of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, students who were depressed and languishing had the greatest odds, exceeding the sum of the individual effects.ConclusionThe interaction of depression and flourishing/languishing produced a synergy that increased odds of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Flourishing interventions may prove to be an effective strategy for universal suicide prevention.

Suicide is an act of an individual taking her or his life intentionally. It is one of the effects of mental health illness. In the Philippines, around 2.2 deaths relating to suicide were recorded per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019. Reasons for suicide Across the globe, suicide is one of the causes of death among which can occur across the board. In the Philippines, deaths caused by intentional self-harm had nearly doubled during the global pandemic in 2020. Certain factors contribute to the increase in the suicide rate, such as are depression, bullying, death of a loved one, and trauma. These factors deliver high-risk behavior among individuals suffering from mental health illness, and the majority consume drugs and drink excessive alcohol. Prevention In the Philippines, talking about mental illness is not very common and people tend to shy away from discussing it due to the stigma connected to this topic.

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, 2007 (APMS 2007) is the third survey of psychiatric morbidity in adults living in private households. The main aim of the survey was to collect data on poor mental health among adults aged 16 and over living in private households in England.

The specific objectives of the survey were:

• to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity according to diagnostic category in the adult household population of England. The survey included assessment of common mental disorders; psychosis; borderline and antisocial personality disorder; Asperger syndrome, substance misuse and dependency; and suicidal thoughts, attempts and self-harm
• to screen for characteristics of eating disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and problem gambling
• to examine trends in the psychiatric disorders that have been included in previous survey years (1993 and 2000)
• to identify the nature and extent of social disadvantage associated with mental illness
• to gauge the level and nature of service use in relation to mental health problems, with an emphasis on primary care
• to collect data on key current and lifetime factors that might be associated with mental health problems, such as experience of stressful life events, abusive relationships, and work stress
• to collect data on factors that might be protective against poor mental health, such as social support networks and neighbourhood cohesion

In 2023, nearly 2.9 thousand people in Japan committed suicide due to problems related to their working situation in Japan. Occupational sudden mortality, known as karoshi ("death by overwork") is a well-known phenomenon in Japanese society. Besides physical pressure, mental stress from the workplace can cause karoshi. Suicide due to occupational stress or overwork is called karojisatsu ("overwork suicide") in Japan.

In 2022, around 80 percent of transgender people in the United States had considered suicide, while around 40 percent had attempted suicide. There has been an upward trend in both the considered and attempted suicide rate since 2000, when 61 percent of transgender people considered committing suicide and 28 percent had attempted it.