Between 1980 and 1986, Canada's suicide rate ranked 22nd of 62 countries reporting statistics to the World Health Organization. One in 7 Canadians has seriously considered suicide. Non-fatal suicidal behaviour occurs much more frequently than completed suicide, with estimates as high as 100 to 1. It is more common at younger ages and in females. People with a previous episode of suicidal behaviour have a 35-50 times greater risk of completing suicide than the overall population.
Mental disorders are a factor in more than half of the suicides in North America.
Persons who are experiencing a major loss. Persons bereaved by suicide , especially family members, are 8 times more likely to complete suicide themselves. Males complete suicide more than 3 times as often as females. Native Canadians and in particular, young Native males, are especially at risk. Not all Native groups have high rates of suicide.