Data analyzed by

State Health Compare

Suicide deaths per 100,000 people

Measure Overview

Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, with thousands of individuals dying by suicide every year. Numerous biological, psychological, and social risk factors are associated with suicide, such as clinical depression, chronic pain, alcohol and drug use disorders, and loss (e.g., familial, financial, social, vocational). Suicide often occurs when an individual experiences feelings of hopelessness and despair stemming from stressors and health issues. Monitoring rates of suicide deaths in the U.S. plays a key role in understanding which subpopulation groups are at increased risk of suicide and can help inform efforts to address the issue of suicide deaths.

State Health Compare provides annual, state-level rates of suicide per 100,000 people, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER Database. Estimates are available annually beginning in 1999 and can be broken down by five categories: age, sex, race/ethnicity (Black/Asian/American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, White), metropolitan status (e.g., non-metropolitan area, small/medium metropolitan area, large metropolitan area), and use of a firearm.

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