According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24.  The top three methods of suicide in this age range is firearm (45%), suffocation (40%) and poisoning (8%).  “A nationwide survey of youth in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the United States (U.S.) found that 16% of students reported seriously considering suicide, 13% reported creating a plan, and 8% reported trying to take their own life in the 12 months preceding the survey.”

Risk factors include:

• History of previous suicide attempts
• Family history of suicide
• History of depression or other mental illness
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Stressful life event or loss
• Easy access to lethal methods
• Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others
• Incarceration

Additional information and resources are available from:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• SAMHSA Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High schools
• American Association of Suicidology