My CIT class last night focused on suicide and suicide statistics.
Some things I found very interesting:
1. There were approximately ~30,000 suicides in the United States in 2001 (the latest year such statistics are currently available). During that same time period, there were ~16,000 homicides.
2. Men are 4 times more likely to die by suicide than women.
3. However, women attempt suicide 3 times more often than men.
4. Elderly adults (especially elderly white males) have rates of suicide near %50 higher than the nation as a whole.
5. White suicides rates (11.9 per 100,000 population) are nearly twice that of non-whites (5.6 per 100,000 population).
6. Ratios of attempted suicides to completed suicides among the young (15-24) are estimated between 100-200 : 1. Meaning, for every young person who dies by suicide, there are between 100-200 attempts by others in that age range.
7. Ratios of attempted suicide to completed suicides amount the elderly (65+) are estimated to be 4 : 1. Meaning, for every elderly person who completes suicide, 4 others attempt.
8. Alcoholics are 50-70% more likely to complete suicide than the general population.
Sources:
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/6517973.stm