The real tragedy is that many of these deaths can be prevented. A first step in solving any problem is knowing more about it. Suicide is defined as intentional, self-inflicted death. Suicidal behaviour is a broader term that describes many types of deliberate self-harm activities, including suicide. More than 3,500 Canadians kill themselves each year.
Suicide is the fifth most common cause of premature death.
Suicide is second only to accidents as a cause of death for people under the age 35. Canada's suicide rate of 14 per 100,000 people is consistently higher than the United States' rate of 12 per 100,000. 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.