According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and
Control, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
. . .
suicide took 31,284 Americans in 1995.
more people die from suicide than from homicide in the United States.
suicide is the ninth leading cause of death for all Americans and the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24.
nearly 60% of all suicides are committed with a firearm.
firearm-related suicides accounted for 96% of the increased suicide rate among black children and teenagers.
in 1995, more than 90% of all suicides were among whites, with males accounting for 73% and females 18%.
suicide among black youths 10-19 years, once uncommon, has increased sharply in recent years. From 1980-1995, 3,030 black youths committed suicide.
black children 10-14 years and black teenagers 15-19 years have a greater suicide percentage increase than white children and teenagers.
explanations for the increase in suicide rates among all youths include family breakdown, easier access to alcohol and illicit drugs, and easier lethal suicide methods.