CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. The Nature and Scope of Suicide
2. Recognizing the Progressive Development of Suicide
3. Substance Abuse as a Major Contributor to Suicide
4. Suicide Across the Life Span
5. Special Populations and Suicide Risk
6. Prevention and Early Intervention for Suicide and Substance Abuse Problems

Supplements
References
Resources

Holding the Lifeline
A Guide to Suicide Prevention

The Cost of Suicide

Family and friends coping with the aftermath of a suicide or a suicide attempt often find themselves dealing with a double blow from the stigma associated with suicide. In reality, they are not alone in their grief. Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death among the general population and is even higher among other select groups and regions of the country. It is the third leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 24 and is the eighth leading cause of death for men--most of whom die from firearm injuries. ref

In fact, more lives are lost annually to suicide than are lost to AIDS or homicide.ref In 2002, suicide was the third leading cause of death for people in the 10-30 age group, following unintentional injuries (first) and homicide (second).ref This amounted to 7,199 deaths for this age group alone.ref These statistics don't take into account the loss to family, friends, and communities from suicide. Every suicide affects from 6 to 8 individuals who are closely associated with the person who has died. ref

Experts agree that suicide remains an underreported cause of death, in part because of differing case reporting requirements and definitions across the countryref and from suicides that are misidentified as unintended injuries or homicides.ref Drug overdoses are also difficult to understand: was the overdose intentional, unintentional, or accidental?

In addition to the tens of thousands of people in this country who die by suicide each year, another 650,000 people receive emergency care after they attempt it.ref It is estimated that there are from 8 to 25 attempted suicides for every one death by suicide--but no national data on attempted suicides are available.ref Countless others have suicidal thoughts (known as suicide ideation).