The short answer is no: suicide rates among teens and young adults are no longer increasing as quickly as they were between 2000 and 2018, when public health agencies, mental health treatment providers, and state- and national-level policymakers raised the alarm about the frightening fact that suicide – during that period – became a leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24.
It’s still a leading cause of death among people ages 10-24 – and when we narrow the data to the facts on high school-age youth, we see rates of suicide still increasing, despite decreases in the wider age groups.
Detailed data on the most common causes of death are available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website here.
The most recent information indicates that that in 2021, suicide was the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 – 24. In 2021, suicide was also among the top four leading causes of death for age groups 10 – 14, 15 – 19, and 20 – 24.
We’ll look more closely at the data and trends for youth suicide in a moment.
With regard to the big picture, for all age groups, the CDC indicates suicide rates increased 37 percent between 2000-2018, fell 5 percent between 2018-2020, then increased again, reaching a peak – the highest number of suicides ever recorded – in 2022.
Here’s the overall data for suicide fatalities for the most recent years for which we have verified data, 2021 and 2022:
Suicide Fatalities: 2021-2022
Total 2021: 48,080
By Age Group:
- 10-24: 7,236
- 25-44: 16,724
- 45-64: 14,468
- 65+: 9,652
Total 2022: 49,437
By Age Group:
- 10-24: 6,529
- Decrease of 8.4%
- 25-44: 16,843
- Increase of 0.07%
- 45-64: 15,632
- Increase of 6.6%
- 65+: 10,433
- Increase +of 8.1%
The total for 2022 – 49,437, is the highest ever recorded, surpassing 48,344 in 2018.
These statistics tell us that suicide is a complex phenomenon, and rates vary significantly by age group and other demographic variables. Figures show increases and decreases for various groups within a consistent general upward trend in suicidality, which includes suicidal thoughts, plans to attempt suicide and suicide attempts. While decreases appear among youth and young adults when viewed as a larger group, increases appear when we focus on high school students alone.
To get a better idea of where youth and young adults stand in the context of the rest of the data, we’ll look at two important reports published recently.
Suicide And Suicidality Among Youth, Teens, and Young Adults
First, we’ll look at the information published in a report published recently by the non-profit mental health advocacy group Mental Health America (MHA) in ”2024: The State of Mental Health in America,” which draws data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and other publicly available sources including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Here are the MHA figures on suicidal ideation, called serious thoughts of suicide, classified by state. This first set is for the states with the five lowest rates of suicidal ideation:
Serious Thoughts of Suicide Among Youth and Young Adults (10-24)
States with Lowest Prevalence in 2022 (Percentages and Totals)
National Average 10-24: 13.16%
Total Nationwide: 3,406,000
- District of Columbia:
-
- 10.68%
- 4,000 total
- Connecticut
- 11.00%
- 30,000 total
- Michigan
- 85%
- 90,000 total
- Texas
- 12.05%
- 316,000 total
- Massachusetts
- 12.24%
- 59,000 total
This second set is for the five states with the highest rates of suicidal ideation:
Serious Thoughts of Suicide Among Youth and Young Adults (10-24)
States with Highest Prevalence in 2022 (Percentages and Totals)
- Oregon (51st)
- 15.00%
- 46,000 total
- Idaho (50th)
- 14.89%
- 25,000 total
- Washington (49th)
- 14.79%
- 85,000 total
- Montana (48th)
- 1464%
- 12,000 total
- Alaska (47th)
- 14.52%
- 9,000 total
This data shows us – with hard facts – that youth and young adults10-24 engage in serious suicidal ideation far more than older demographics. The nationwide average for people over age 10-24 is 13.1 percent, which is 86 percent lower than the national average of 5.2 percent for people 18+.
Suicide and Suicidality Among High School Age Teens
When we narrow the focus from the larger youth and young adult demographic, 10-24, and focus on high school age people only, the figures are alarming. They explain why we still need to consider the nation as in the midst of a youth mental health crisis, as defined by the Surgeon General of the U.S. in the 2021 advisory, Protecting Youth Mental Health.
We’ve improved in some areas, but data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2023 YRBS) shows that for high school students, we still have a significant amount of work to do to protect not only their mental health, but their overall health and wellbeing.
Recent Trends Suicidality Among High School Age Teens, Ages 13-18
Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide in the Past Year:
- 2017: 17.6%
- 2019: 18.8%
- 2021: 22%
Made a Suicide Plan in the Past Year:
- 2017: 15.7%
- 2019: 15.7%
- 2021: 18%
Attempted Suicide in the Past Year:
- 2017: 8.9%
- 2019: 8.9%
- 2021: 10%
We can see here that 50 percent more high school students engaged in serious suicidal ideation, as compared to people in the broader youth and young adult age category. And the percentage of high school age people who made a suicide plan and/or attempted suicide is greater than the number of adults age 26+ who made a suicide plan in 2021 – 0.9 percent – or attempted suicide in 2021 – 0.6 percent.
How We Can Help Prevent Suicide Among Teens and Young Adults?
The first and most important way we can help reduce suicidality and ultimately prevent suicide attempts is to pay close attention to our youth, teens, and young adults. That means we need to watch them and listen. When they say they have problems with any mental health-related issue, we need to take them seriously and find them professional support when needed.
Although it may work in some cases, we advise against tough love when a teen brings up mental health issues. Instead, we need to lead with compassion and understanding, and give them whatever support they need, in whatever way they can accept it.
Here are five tips provided by the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to support youth and young adults during a mental health and/or suicide-related crisis:
1. Talk About It
Evidence shows asking and talking about suicidal ideation decrease all types of suicidal behavior.
2. Keep a Safe Home
Preventing youth or young adult access to lethal means – firearms, medication – can significantly reduce likelihood of a suicide attempt.
3. Be Present
Your teen – or your teen who’s now a young adult – may act like they don’t want you around, but the fact is they need you around. Isolation from social contact and disconnection from close family are risk factors for suicidal behavior.
4. Provide Resources
You can help by connecting them to crisis support at the 988 Lifeline or arranging professional treatment with a mental health professional. Data shows calling 988 can help reduce depressive symptoms, reduce suicidality, and increase hopefulness – all by the end of one phone call.
5. Keep Checking
Once you’ve done everything in items 1-4, your work has just begun. It’s important to follow up: keeping that sense of connection is crucial. Sometimes a simple “How’s it going?” is what a person needs to feel both seen and supported.
With all of that said, we’ll reiterate that professional support is the best way to help a young person with mental health challenges. Step one is a full psychiatric assessment administered by a licensed mental health professional. Step two, if a mental health professional arrives at a diagnosis for a clinical mental health disorder, is professional treatment.
Remember: the sooner a person who needs mental health treatment gets the help they need, the better the long-term outcome.
