Chapter 1. Suicide in the United States

In recent years, suicide has emerged as a leading cause of death in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018, June 7). American Indian/Alaska Natives have been affected more than any other group, but suicide impacts all ethnicities (Ivey-Stephenson, Crosby, Jack, Haileyesus, & Kresnow-Sedacca, 2017). Researchers examine suicide rates across gender, age, and ethnicity in order to better understand risk factors and to help develop suicide prevention strategies. Let’s take a look at what this means—and what you can do if you are concerned a friend or family member might be contemplating suicide.