Self Harm and Suicide Prevention
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Definition: Suicide is defined as death from injury, poisoning, or suffocation where there is evidence that a self-inflicted act led to the person's death. It is important to recognize the warning signs of suicide, which include talking about harming or killing oneself. Knowing the risk factors and responding appropriately to warning signs can be effective at preventing youth suicide.
Magnitude of the Problem
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 19 and results in the loss of an average of 2,600 lives each year based on 2022 to 2024 mortality data.1 According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data for 2023,2
- 40% of students, grade 9-12, reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the previous 12 months.
- 20% of students reported that they had seriously considered attempting suicide in the previous 12 months.
- 10% of students reported making at least one suicide attempt in the previous 12 months.
Prevention
Strategies for preventing youth suicides may include3:
- Access to effective behavioral health care
- Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions
- Increasing life skills, such as problem solving and coping skills and the ability to adapt to change
- Establishing a sense of purpose and meaning in life
- Implementing screening and prevention activities for high-risk groups
- Strengthening norms that support help-seeking behaviors
- Primary prevention of conditions such as depression, impulsive behavior, and drug or alcohol abuse
- Reducing access to lethal means
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Fatal Injury Reports,2022-2024. Accessed March 24, 2026. https://wisqars.cdc.gov/.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Survey data summary & trends report: 2013–2023. Updated August 6, 2024. Accessed March 24, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/index.html.
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Risk and protective factors. Accessed March 24, 2026. https://sprc.org/risk-and-protective-factors/.