Facts and Figures
Risk Factors
Warning Signs

Facts and Figures

On July 16, 1997, Jason Flatt became a statistic and part of an alarming increase in the nation’s youth suicide rate. The facts reveal that a silent epidemic of youth suicide is ravaging our nation and stealing the futures of our young people.

Suicide ranks as the THIRD leading cause of death for ages 10-24 and FOURTH for ages 10-14.
Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for our college-aged youth, as well as for ages 15 to 19 in many states.
NHSDA Report / SAMHSA (US Dept. of Health) – In 2000, over ONE Million youth attempted suicide in the U.S. That equates to over 4,200 attempts each day in our nation by youth ages 12 to 17.

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Each week in our nation, we lose approximately 100+ young people to suicide.
Even though white males make up the majority of completed suicides, from 1980-1995, suicide among black youth ages 10-14 increased 233% and in black youth ages 15-19 suicide rates increased 126%. For black youth in the southern region of the nation, there was an increase of 214%.
In the past forty years, youth suicide rates have almost tripled. Between 1980 and 1996, suicide rates for ages 10 to 14 increased by over 100%.
More teenagers and young adults have died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease COMBINED.
According to the NMHA, four out of five people who attempt suicide have given clear warnings.

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