Suicide Prevention 

September is Suicide Prevention Month – a month to remember the lives lost to suicide acknowledge the millions of people who struggle with suicidal thoughts, and support survivors of suicide attempts.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Download PDF
Suicide Prevention PDFIn 2022, over 49,000 people died by suicide in the United States, making it the 11th leading cause of death in the country. This equates to a rate of about 14.21 suicides per 100,000 individuals. Breaking this data down into segmented groups shows significant differences in suicide rates across various demographics.

Gender: Males have a suicide rate approximately 3.85 times higher than that of females. Men accounted for nearly 80% of all suicide deaths, despite making up about 50% of the population. 

Age Groups: Data shows suicide rates tend to increase with age. In 2022, the highest suicide rates were among those aged 85 and older (23.02 per 100,000), followed by those aged 75-84 (20.26 per 100,000). Adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24) saw a decrease in suicide rates, down to 13.62 per 100,000 from 15.15 in the previous year.  

Race/Ethnicity: American Indian and Alaska Native people had the highest age-adjusted suicide rates at 16.11 per 100,000, followed closely by non-Hispanic White people at 15.83 per 100,000. The rates for Black or African Americans were 8.60 per 100,000, and for Asians and Pacific Islanders, it was 6.93 per 100,000. Hispanic individuals had a lower rate of 8.08 per 100,000. 

Suicide Attempts: An estimated 1.6 million adults in the U.S. attempted suicide in 2022. Among youth in grades 9-12, about 10% reported having made at least one suicide attempt in the past year, with American Indian or Alaska Native students reporting the highest rate at 16%.                                                                                                                          

Looking further, the suicide rates among veterans, active duty military personnel, and first responders are concerning, with each group facing unique challenges that contribute to elevated risks. 

Veterans: According to the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, the suicide rate among U.S. veterans was 33.1 per 100,000 in 2021, which is significantly higher than the general population's rate. The rate has remained relatively stable over the past few years. Factors such as access to firearms, mental health issues like PTSD, and difficulties in adjusting to civilian life contribute to this high rate.  

Active-Duty Military: In 2022, the suicide rate for active-duty service members was reported to be approximately 24.3 per 100,000, with 492 service members dying by suicide. This reflects a slight increase from 2021, but both years showed lower rates compared to 2020. The rate for the Reserve and National Guard components showed no significant upward or downward trends, though there were decreases in some years. 

First Responders: In 2022, the suicide rates among first responders remained a critical issue, with law enforcement officers and other first responders experiencing higher rates than the general population. For law enforcement specifically, the 2022 Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection reported 32 suicides and 9 attempted suicides among law enforcement officers, with most of these involving active duty, sworn officers. The primary contributing factors included intimate partner problems, job-related stress, and physical health issues.   
These statistics underscore the need for targeted mental health interventions and ongoing support for these high-risk groups to address the complex factors contributing to their elevated suicide rates.  
 

America’s VetDogs serves veterans, active-duty military, and first responders during some of their most difficult seasons, such as after a career-ending injury or diagnosis. We provide service dogs at no cost that can help restore hope, purpose, and independence in their lives. One of our service dog recipients, Kevin Bittenbender, openly shares his suicide survival story and how his service dog has helped restore his independence and value to his life. He says of his service dog, "Kirby gives me a sense of calm that I’ve never really had the last 13 years. With Kirby by my side, I feel calmer and at peace in a crowded area. I’m more social. He’s allowed me to extend myself. Kirby’s just reinvigorated that sense of purpose in me."

Learn more about our incredible work and share this with a veteran, active-duty military personnel, or first responder you know who may benefit. Find out more!

*Information, data, and statistics were gathered from: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Fire Administration, Department of Defense, VA.gov, and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.