View Map Suicide is only part of the problem of self-directed violence. The number of completed suicides reflects only a small portion of the impact of suicidal behavior. It is estimated that more people are hospitalized because of suicide attempts than are fatally injured. And, compared with the number hospitalized, an even greater number of people who attempt suicide are treated in outpatient settings or not at all. In 1997, an estimated 610,000 visits to U.S. hospital emergency departments were due to self-directed violence.
Suicide affects many populations.
From 1979 to 1992, suicide rates for Native Americans were 1.5 times the national rates. Asian-American women have the highest suicide rate among women age 65 or older. The suicide rate among young people is highest for white males. However, from 1980 to 1996, the suicide rate increased most rapidly among black males ages 15 to 19, more than doubling from 3.6 to 8.1 per 100,000. Most suicides involve firearms.