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Suicide is a Major Public Health Problem

Across the United States

49,000+
people died by suicide in 20221

1 death
every 11 minutes1

Suicide rates increased
36%+
from 2000 to 20221

12.8 million adults
ages 18+ had thoughts about suicide in 20232

12.3%
of adolescents ages 12-17 had thoughts about suicide in 20232

See State-by-State Data

 

In North Carolina

1,600+
people died by suicide in 20221

4 deaths
by suicide every day1

3x
higher suicide rate for men3

2.5x
higher suicide rate for veterans3

Adults age 45-64
are the most at-risk age group3

59% of suicide deaths
are firearm-related from 2013-20223

$16 Billion+
financial impact of suicide deaths alone in 20223

See More North Carolina Data

 

The Mental Health Crisis

The rise in deaths by suicides coincides with a dramatic rise in unmet mental health needs.

Crisis Services in North Carolina

128,385
total calls, texts, and chats to 988 in 20244

45.5%
of contacts are from repeat callers4

9,000+
contacts are for suicidal threats4

 

Mental Health and Suicide Deaths in North Carolina3

7 out of 10 women had a current mental health problem
5 out of 10 men had a current mental health problem

 

57% of women were in mental health treatment
57% Complete
34% of men were in mental health treatment
34% Complete

 

Adults In North Carolina3

15%
experience frequent mental distress

3 in 10
report feeling lonely

High School Students In North Carolina3

2 in 5
feel sad or hopeless

1 in 5
seriously considered attempting suicide

1 in 10
made a suicide attempt

See More Statistics

 

Suicide Prevention Strategies Can Save Lives

Many people who die by suicide tell someone about their suicidal intent. This is an opportunity to take action and get them help.

Men

  • 27% disclosed intent
  • 35% history of suicidal thoughts

Women

  • 26% disclosed intent
  • 42% history of suicidal thoughts
Firearms are the most common weapon used in suicide deaths in North Carolina. Use safe storage practices to ensure that people cannot access firearms that are not their own.

  • Use trigger locks, cable locks, lock boxes, and gun safes.
  • Use locking devices in all residences: houses, condos, apartments, and trailers.
When you safely store firearms, it keeps everyone safe any time a person sets foot in your residence.

  • Family members
  • Friends
  • Neighbors
  • Guests
  • Service technicians
  • Contractors
 
14% of suicide deaths from 2013-2022 are poisonings, which includes medications. Use safe storage and disposal practices to ensure that medications do not get misused.

  • Use lock boxes, locking cabinets, or safes to store prescription medications.
  • Only online medications in safe ways, such as drop boxes, drug take-back events, or disposal pouches.
Many people who die by suicide tell someone about their suicidal intent. This is an opportunity to take action and get them help.

Men

  • 27% disclosed intent
  • 35% history of suicidal thoughts

Women

  • 26% disclosed intent
  • 42% history of suicidal thoughts

 

Resources on How to Help People

Find guidance on suicide and suicide prevention, such as helpful overviews, fact sheets, data, and more.

NC Department of Health and Human Services
Data, fact sheets, and other resources that help uncover the impact of suicide in North Carolina.
View Resource
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
List of simple action steps you can take to talk with someone who is at risk for suicide.
View Resource
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A thorough overview of suicide from background information and data to fact sheets, suicide prevention guidance, and more.
View Resource
National Center for Health Statistics
Interactive map that shows suicide mortality by state.
View Resource
NC Department of Health and Human Services
Population-specific fact sheets on the impact of suicide among veterans, youth, older adults, and more.
View Resource
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
National statistics and perspective on the impact of suicide across the country.
View Resource
NC Detect Mental Health Dashboard
An overview of hospital emergency department visit trends for select mental health conditions, including suicidal ideation.
View Resource

 

Data Sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Data and Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html 
  2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No.PEP24-07-021, NSDUH Series H-59). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-annual-national-report 
  3. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Suicide and Self-inflicted Injury Death and Morbidity in North Carolina, 2022. Accessed April 1, 2025. https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Finjuryfreenc.dph.ncdhhs.gov%2Fresources%2Fdocs%2FSuicide_SelfHarm_Core_Slides_PPT_Template_2022_NoLinks.pptx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK 
  4. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. North Carolina 988 Performance Dashboard. Accessed April 1, 2025. https://dashboards.ncdhhs.gov/t/DMHDDSAS/views/988PerformanceDashboard112022thru102023_17002346658920/988Dashboard?%3Aembed=y&%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y