According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, suicide was the 12th leading cause of death in the United States in 2020. The CDC reports higher increases among American Indian and Alaska Native women (139%) and men (71%), Black women (65%), White women (68%) and men (40%), and Hispanic women (37%). People who identify as LGBTQ, youth and young adults, disaster survivors, and veterans are also at greater risk of suicide.
Survey data shows that most Americans believe that suicide is preventable, and the latest scientific research supports that view. Suicide risk screening usually happens in U.S. hospitals and health systems if patients have already been diagnosed with a behavioral or mental health concern. Hospitals and health systems are well positioned to identify patients at risk and connect them to increasingly essential care. Research shows that doing so can make a big impact, but the practice is happening in only a few places. The Pew Charitable Trusts' newest project aims to make universal suicide risk screening the norm.
Take a few minutes to review the Pew Charitable Trusts Suicide Risk Reduction Project articles illuminating stats and firsthand insights on how this simple, low-cost solution can help:
