The Epidemiology of Suicide: Who is most likely to take their own life?

Dec. 11, 2014
Untreated mental illness is the leading risk factor for the vast majority of suicides. However, other demographical information can help predict who is the most likely to complete suicide as well.

Untreated mental illness (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others) is the leading risk factor for the vast majority of suicides. However, other demographical information can help predict who is the most likely to complete suicide as well.

These statistics are essential for helping you identify those most at risk for completing suicide.

Suicide Facts: United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collects data about mortality in the U.S., including deaths by suicide. In 2012 (the most recent year for which full data is available), 40,600 suicides were reported.  Suicide is the 10h highest cause of death for all ages, sexes and ethnicities.  The suicide rate in 2012 stood at 12.5 deaths per 100,000.  During that year, someone in this country died by suicide every 12.9 minutes.  According to the FBI there were 12,765 homicide deaths in 2012.  Statistically, you are over 3 times more likely to kill yourself than to be killed by someone else.

Globally  

In 2012 over 800,000 people died by suicide.  Suicide accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, making it the 15th leading cause of death in 2012.  There were over 2 suicidal deaths every minute somewhere in the world in 2012.  There are more suicides globally than deaths from war and violence combined.  It is estimated that global annual suicide fatalities could rise to 1.5 million by 2020.

The Demographics of Suicide

Although major demographic categories are discussed separately, a person invariably has more than one risk factor, which even further increases their risk for suicide. For example, a 35-year-old male law enforcement officer with depression, who was recently divorced, involved in an internal affairs investigation, and abuses alcohol is at a high risk for suicide. He ends his life with his service weapon. This individual had six significant suicide risk factors: gender, occupation, depression, substance abuse, divorce, and access to a firearm.

There are also many more suicides than the official statistics reveal. It is estimated that suicide deaths are under-reported by 20-30%. Many "accidental" or "undetermined" deaths may actually be suicides: single car accidents with no skid marks, falling off a ship, stumbling in front of a train, accidental overdoses, cleaning a gun, etc. Families and physicians may hide evidence of a suicide due to the stigma of taking one's own life. Additionally, the frequency of physician-assisted suicides is unknown.

Who is most likely to commit suicide? Gender

Overwhelmingly, males are. In 2012, men had a suicide rate of 20.3/100,000, and women had a rate of 5.4/100.000. Males kill themselves at about four times the rate for females, and represent 78.3% of all U.S. suicides. While males are 4 times more likely than females to die by suicide, females attempt suicide 3 times as often as males.

Age

  • In 2012, the highest suicide rate was among people 45 to 59 years old. (20/100,000)
  • The 2nd highest rate occurred in those 75 years and older. (17)
  • Adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of (11)
  • In general, suicide rates increase with age. Younger groups have had consistently lower suicide rates than middle-aged and older adults.  However, there is a major spike during the adolescent and young adult years.
  • The ratio of suicide attempts to suicide death in youth is estimated to be about 25:1, compared to 4:1 in the elderly.

Race/Ethnicity

White males accounted for 65% of all suicides in 2012. (14/100,000) The 2nd highest rate (11) was among American Indians and Alaska Natives.  Much lower and roughly similar rates were found among Asians and Pacific Islanders (6.2), Hispanics (5.8) and Blacks (5.5).

Marital Status

Marriage is associated with lower overall suicide rates. The National Institute for Healthcare Research in indicates that divorced people are three times as likely to commit suicide as people who are married. The Institute says that divorce now ranks as the number one factor linked with suicide rates in major U.S. cities, ranking above all other physical, financial, and psychological factors. Gender also plays a role in this; divorced and widowed men are more likely than divorced and widowed women to commit suicide. Living alone and being single increase the risk of suicide. Being a parent decreases a person's risk for suicide, especially for mothers.

Geography

Examining the nation regionally, the Mountain states have the highest suicide completion rates. This is not related to weather, but to the concentration of people in these states; the population is more spread out than in other parts of the country. People living in rural areas are at higher risk for suicide than those who live in urban areas. In 2012, five U.S. states, all in the West, had age-adjusted suicide rates in excess of 20/100,000 (remember the national average is 12.5/100,000:

  1. Wyoming (29.8)
  2. Alaska (23.0)
  3. Montana (22.5)
  4. New Mexico (21.3)
  5. Utah (21.0)

The lowest rates were in New Jersey (6.1), New York (6.2,) Rhode Island (6.6), and Massachusetts (7.5).

Professions and Occupations

Statistics regarding suicide related to profession can be, at best, quite misleading. Many groups of professionals have claimed that they have the highest suicide rates, and they do have some statistics to back up their claims. Individuals in health care, law enforcement and the military have a significantly higher rate than others do, but this is undoubtedly because they know how to complete suicide more efficiently. Knowing where to place a bullet, what is a lethal dose, etc., is part of their job description.

5 Jobs with the Highest Suicide Rates

Based on data compiled from divisions of the CDC, news outlets, and other data sets, a list was developed of the professions that make it onto nearly every chart related to suicide by profession.

  1. Physicians:  Male doctors 1.87 times more likely to kill themselves than the average non-physician. Women physicians are 2.78 times more likely to kill themselves than the average female worker.
  2. Dentists: 1.67 increased likeliness of suicide among those in the profession.
  3. Finance Workers:  Finance workers, such as those working in financial service departments and sales occupations, are reportedly 1.51 times more likely to commit suicide than the average worker.
  4. Lawyers are 1.33 times more likely to commit suicide than the average person.
  5. Police Officers:
  • White police officers don’t make the top of the charts.
  • However, for white women, it’s the third riskiest profession for suicide, with a rate 2.03 times that of the average worker.
  • It tops the charts as the number one riskiest profession for black men, where the suicide rate is 2.55 times higher than the average person, reports the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance.

However, the most alarming statistics for completed suicide is that for military personnel, past and present.  Male U.S. military veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide as men who haven't served in the armed forces.  Additionally, in 2012 more active-duty soldiers killed themselves than died in combat.

Economic Factor         

Extremes in wealth or poverty are associated with higher suicide rates. People with both the highest and lowest incomes are more likely to complete suicide than those with other income levels. Times of economic depressions have also been correlated to increased suicide rates. Unemployment or being in debt also increases an individual's feeling of despair and hopelessness, making them more susceptible to suicide.

Timing

  • Most suicides occur in the spring; the highest month for suicide is May, followed by April.
  • Statistically, there are more suicides on Monday over any other day of the week. This statistic may be skewed, as many people who commit suicide are not found until after the weekend, when they fail to report for work or school.
  • Despite popular belief, suicide rates do not increase over the winter holidays, or on an individual's birthday. In fact, December is the lowest month related to completed suicides.
  • Additionally, research has continually demonstrated no relationship between suicides and the phase of the moon.

Medical Conditions

People who are terminally ill, have a serious and/or chronic illnesses, or have protracted pain are at a greater risk for completing suicide. These individuals often use suicide as a way to regain some control concerning when and how they will die, or to prevent the emotional pain that their loved ones may experience while watching them die more slowly. Medical conditions associated with the highest suicide rates are end-stage renal disease, chronic heart or lung diseases, cancer, HIV infection/AIDS, quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, and severe burns.           

Mental illness

90% of people who commit suicide have one or more diagnosable mental illnesses. 60% percent of all suicides are committed by people with mood disorders (such as major depression, dysthymia, or bipolar disorder). Approximately 30% of suicides are committed by people who have psychiatric disorders other than mood disorders which include post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, sleep disorders, and eating disorders (particularly anorexia nervosa). Depression affects nearly 10% of Americans ages 18 and over annually--19 million people.15% percent of the American population will suffer from clinical depression during their lifetime. 30% of all clinically depressed individuals attempt suicide; about half of them will ultimately be successful. Depression is one of the most treatable mental illnesses, between 80-90% of individuals diagnosed with depression respond to treatment.

Substance Abuse and Suicide

Men with a substance use disorder are approximately 2.3 times more likely to die by suicide than those who are not substance abusers. Among women, a substance use disorder increases the risk of suicide by 6.5 X.

Experience Risks

  • Loss of a romantic relationship
  • Job termination or demotion
  • Grief over the loss of a loved one, specifically a spouse, child, parent, friend, or pet
  • Changes in the health of a loved one
  • Changes in social or economic status
  • Legal problems

Additional Suicide Risks

o   People who have lost a family member or friend to suicide are more likely to attempt or commit suicide.

o   Persons with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) are especially vulnerable to suicide.

o   People who commit or attempt suicide may be copying an idol or famous case of suicide.

o   People who are highly impulsive are at greater risk for committing suicide. Examples of impulsive behavior include fighting, risky sex practices, substance abuse, fighting, gambling, and doing things to excess.

o   People who have made previous suicide attempts.

o   People who were abused or neglected as children.

o   Victims of domestic violence.

o   Sexual orientation:  lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population

o   People involved in, or arrested for, committing crimes are at higher risk of committing suicide.

Methods of Suicide                                                                                                                             

In 2012, firearms were the most common method of death by suicide, accounting for a little more than half (50.9%) of all suicide deaths. The next most common methods were suffocation (including hangings) at 24.8% and poisoning (overdosing) at 16.6%. 

Conclusion

Suicide has been coined "the most preventable death." Given the right, or the wrong circumstances, anyone and everyone can potentially become suicidal. If you are considering suicide, there are other options. Call 911, a hotline, your doctor, a family member, a friend, a partner, a supervisor, employment assistance program--talk to someone. If you suspect someone you know may be suicidal, get them help immediately. As a LEO on a call, assess as many risk factors as you can when determining if someone represents a danger to himself/herself and is in need of an emergency psychiatric evaluation. Remember, suicidal acts are rarely related to just one risk factor. Include all identified risks in your 72 hour hold petition.  You can make a difference, you can save a life. 

Resources

The statistics to complete this article were compiled using many reliable websites including WHO, the CDC, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 

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