Suicide rates have traditionally decreased in times of war and increased in times of economic crisis. Suicide rates are the highest among the divorced and widowed, and lowest among the married. One young person commits suicide every 2 hours, on average. Suicide cuts across ethnic, economic, social and age boundaries. Caucasian suicide rates are approximately twice those of African-Americans and Hispanics.
Major depression is the psychiatric diagnosis most commonly associated with suicide.
One out of every 11 people who are diagnosed with depression eventually commit suicide. The risk of suicide among people with depression is approximately 20 times that of the general population. People who have a dependence on alcohol in addition to being depressed are at a greater risk for suicide. Suicide is preventable. Surviving family members not only suffer the trauma of losing a loved on to suicide, but also are themselves at higher risk of suicide and emotional problems.