| Prevalence |
Approximately 1.3% of all deaths in the United States are considered to be suicides—more than 32,000 people annually (CDC, 2005). Worldwide, the elderly (65 and older) are three times as likely to commit suicide as are those under 25 years old (WHO, 1999). In the United States, suicide is most likely to occur among the middle aged (45–54), particularly White men; young people (under 26) are the next most likely to commit suicide (CDC, 2000, 2005, 2013; Miniño et al., 2002). From 1950 to 1995, worldwide suicide rates increased by 60%, particularly among young men (WHO, 1999), making it the third leading cause of death for teenagers, particularly males (Waters, 2000). |
| Gender Differences |
Worldwide, women are more likely to attempt suicide than are men (Nock et al., 2008). In the United States, although women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are four times more likely to die from an attempt (CDC, 2005). |
| Cultural Differences |
Hanging is the most common method of suicide worldwide, but guns are the most common method in the United States (particularly among men), undoubtedly because access to them is easier than in other countries (De Leo, 2002a; Moscicki, 1995; Romero & Wintemute, 2002). Internationally, Eastern European countries, as a region, have the highest rates of suicide; examples are Belarus (41.5 per 100,000) and Lithuania (51.6 per 100,000). Latin American countries tend to have the lowest rates; examples are Paraguay (4.2 per 100,000) and Colombia (4.5 per 100,000) (WHO, 2002). |