THE DE-LAP DESK | SCOTT GODSHALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
C O M P R EH EN D I N G S U I C I D E This article discusses sensitive topics that some readers may find distressing.
This month’s column is the second of three columns focused on suicide risk among our colleagues, our families, and our friends. The February article discussed Experiencing Suicide; the March article, below, addresses Comprehending Suicide; Preventing Suicide will be covered in the April Article.
Nature and Scope
2021 U.S. Suicide Statistics 1
Suicide is a complex public health issue. “Comprehend-
ing” suicide, as used here, refers to understanding the nature and scope of suicide in our everyday lives.
48,183
11th
132
10.9
In 2021, 48,183 Americans died by suicide.
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Every day, approximately 132 Americans die by suicide.
There is one suicide death in the US every 10.9 minutes.
Because suicide can be a sensitive topic to discuss, how
we talk about suicide matters. While the term “committed suicide” is common, we avoid saying “committed suicide” as it can have judgmental connotation. Furthermore, be-
cause suicide is a health issue it is important to talk about
suicide in the same way we talk about other health issues,
such as cancer or cardiac arrest. For example, we wouldn’t say, “committed cancer” or “committed a heart attack,”
we say “died from cancer” or “died of a heart attack.” The same goes for suicide. Instead, we encourage using the phrases “died by suicide” or “death by suicide.”
3rd
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year old Americans.
The highest suicide rates (per 100,000) in the U.S. are among white males (26.4), followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (25), and Black males (14.1).
these words imply judgment. Instead, we encourage the
1/25
“ended their life.”
There are approximately 1,204,575 annual attempts in the U.S. or one attempt every 26.2 seconds.
When talking about suicide attempts, we avoid refer-
ring to suicide attempts as “failed” or “successful” as
use of the phrases “suicide attempt,” “died by suicide,” or
There is one suicide death for every estimated 25 suicide attempts.
26.2
Suicide Statistics By Gender 2
One male dies by suicide every 13.7 minutes in the U.S.
There are 3.9 male deaths by suicide for each female death by suicide.
20 DSBA Bar Journal | www.dsba.org
There are three female attempts for each male attempt.
One female dies by suicide every 53.5 minutes in the U.S.