{"id":19541,"date":"2026-04-20T13:35:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T17:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/?page_id=19541"},"modified":"2026-06-12T10:17:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:17:59","slug":"suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Suicide is a Major Public Health Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">Across the United States<\/h2>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-0\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-0-0\" id=\"card-0-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>49,000+<br \/>\n<\/strong>people died by suicide in 2022<sup>1<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-0-1\" id=\"card-0-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>1 death<\/strong><br \/>\nevery 11 minutes<sup>1<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-0-2\" id=\"card-0-2\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4>Suicide rates increased<br \/>\n<strong>36%+<\/strong><br \/>\nfrom 2000 to 2022<sup>1<\/sup><br \/>\n<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-1\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-1-0\" id=\"card-1-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>12.8 million adults<\/strong><br \/>\nages 18+ had thoughts about suicide in 2023<sup>2<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-1-1\" id=\"card-1-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>12.3%<\/strong><br \/>\nof adolescents ages 12-17 had thoughts about suicide in 2023<sup>2<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/suicide\/facts\/rates-by-state.html\">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-1-2\" id=\"card-1-2\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>See State-by-State Data<br \/>\n<i class=\" glyphicon glyphicon-arrow-right \" style=\"color:#24125f; font-size:45px;\"><\/i><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n    <\/a>\n\n    \n<\/div><\/div>\n<script>\n\n    (function($) {\n        $(\"body, html\").addClass(\"heels_full_width_overflow\");\n    })(jQuery);\n\n   <\/script>\n   <div style=\"background-color:#f5f5f5;\" class=\"full-width-contained whitebackground \">\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">In North Carolina<\/h2>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-2\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-2-0\" id=\"card-2-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>1,600+<br \/>\n<\/strong>people died by suicide in 2022<sup>1<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-2-1\" id=\"card-2-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>4 deaths<\/strong><br \/>\nby suicide every day<sup>1<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-2-2\" id=\"card-2-2\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>3x<\/strong><br \/>\nhigher suicide rate for men<sup>3<\/sup><br \/>\n<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-3\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-3-0\" id=\"card-3-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>2.5x<\/strong><br \/>\nhigher suicide rate for veterans<sup>3<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-3-1\" id=\"card-3-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>Adults age 45-64<\/strong><br \/>\nare the most at-risk age group<sup>3<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-3-2\" id=\"card-3-2\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>59% of suicide deaths<\/strong><br \/>\nare firearm-related from 2013-2022<sup>3<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-4\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-4-0\" id=\"card-4-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>$16 Billion+<\/strong><br \/>\nfinancial impact of suicide deaths alone in 2022<sup>3<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/pressroom\/sosmap\/suicide-mortality\/suicide.htm\">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-4-1\" id=\"card-4-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>See More North Carolina Data<br \/>\n<i class=\" glyphicon glyphicon-arrow-right \" style=\"color:#24125f; font-size:45px;\"><\/i><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n    <\/a>\n\n    \n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">The Mental Health Crisis<\/h2>\n<p><strong>The rise in deaths by suicides coincides with a dramatic rise in unmet mental health needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Crisis Services in North Carolina<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-5\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-5-0\" id=\"card-5-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>128,385<br \/>\n<\/strong>total calls, texts, and chats to 988 in 2024<sup>4<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-5-1\" id=\"card-5-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>45.5%<\/strong><br \/>\nof contacts are from repeat callers<sup>4<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-lg-4 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-5-2\" id=\"card-5-2\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>9,000+<\/strong><br \/>\ncontacts are for suicidal threats<sup>4<\/sup><br \/>\n<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Mental Health and Suicide Deaths in North Carolina<sup>3<\/sup><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><div class=\"row  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-xs-12 col-sm-6 oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<strong>7 out of 10 women had a current mental health problem<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19588 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png\" alt=\"Illustration of ten simplified female figures in a row, with seven in blue and three in gray, representing a 70\/30 proportion.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women-300x45.png 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women-768x116.png 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women-600x90.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-xs-12 col-sm-6 oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<strong>5 out of 10 men had a current mental health problem<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-19587 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-5-out-of-10-men.png\" alt=\"Illustration of ten simplified male figures in a row, with five in dark blue and five in gray, representing an even 50\/50 split.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-5-out-of-10-men.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-5-out-of-10-men-300x45.png 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-5-out-of-10-men-768x116.png 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-5-out-of-10-men-600x91.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-xs-12 col-sm-6 oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<strong>57% of women were in mental health treatment<\/strong><div class=\"progress   osc-progressbar oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n  <div class=\"progress-bar  oscitas-bootstrap-container\"  role=\"progressbar\" aria-valuenow=\"57\" aria-valuemin=\"0\" aria-valuemax=\"100\" style=\"width: 57%\">\n    <span class=\"sr-only oscitas-bootstrap-container\">57% Complete<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-xs-12 col-sm-6 oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<strong>34% of men were in mental health treatment<\/strong><div class=\"progress   osc-progressbar oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n  <div class=\"progress-bar  oscitas-bootstrap-container\"  role=\"progressbar\" aria-valuenow=\"34\" aria-valuemin=\"0\" aria-valuemax=\"100\" style=\"width: 34%\">\n    <span class=\"sr-only oscitas-bootstrap-container\">34% Complete<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script>\n\n    (function($) {\n        $(\"body, html\").addClass(\"heels_full_width_overflow\");\n    })(jQuery);\n\n   <\/script>\n   <div style=\"background-color:#f5f5f5;\" class=\"full-width-contained whitebackground \">\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">Adults In North Carolina<sup>3<\/sup><\/h2>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-6\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-6-0\" id=\"card-6-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>15%<br \/>\n<\/strong>experience frequent mental distress<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-6-1\" id=\"card-6-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>3 in 10<\/strong><br \/>\nreport feeling lonely<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">High School Students In North Carolina<sup>3<\/sup><\/h2>\n<div class=\" row clearfix\" id=\"unc-cards-7\">\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-7-0\" id=\"card-7-0\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>2 in 5<\/strong><br \/>\nfeel sad or hopeless<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-7-1\" id=\"card-7-1\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>1 in 5<\/strong><br \/>\nseriously considered attempting suicide<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-7-2\" id=\"card-7-2\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>1 in 10<\/strong><br \/>\nmade a suicide attempt<\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-6 col-xs-none element-animation \">\n\n    \n    <a href=\"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&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK\">\n\n    \n        <div class=\"card card-7-3\" id=\"card-7-3\">\n\n            <div class=\"card-service\">\n\n                \n                <h4><strong>See More Statistics<br \/>\n<i class=\" glyphicon glyphicon-arrow-right \" style=\"color:#24125f; font-size:45px;\"><\/i><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n    <\/a>\n\n    \n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">Suicide Prevention Strategies Can Save Lives<\/h2>\n<div role=\"tablist\" class=\"panel-group yourcustomclass oscitas-bootstrap-container\" id=\"unc-accordion-0\">\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-0\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-0\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-0\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"true\" \n                href=\"#details-0-0\">\n                Know How to Talk About Suicide            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h3>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-0\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\nMany people who die by suicide tell someone about their suicidal intent. This is an opportunity to take action and get them help.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Men<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>27% disclosed intent<\/li>\n<li>35% history of suicidal thoughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Women<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>26% disclosed intent<\/li>\n<li>42% history of suicidal thoughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-1\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-1\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-1\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-1\">\n                Practice Safe Storage of Firearms            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h3>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\nFirearms 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.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use trigger locks, cable locks, lock boxes, and gun safes.<\/li>\n<li>Use locking devices in all residences: houses, condos, apartments, and trailers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-2\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-2\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-2\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-2\">\n                Practice Safe Storage of Firearms            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h3>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\nWhen you safely store firearms, it keeps everyone safe any time a person sets foot in your residence.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Family members<\/li>\n<li>Friends<\/li>\n<li>Neighbors<\/li>\n<li>Guests<\/li>\n<li>Service technicians<\/li>\n<li>Contractors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-3\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-3\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-3\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-3\">\n                Practice Safe Storage of Medications            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h3>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n14% 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.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use lock boxes, locking cabinets, or safes to store prescription medications.<\/li>\n<li>Only online medications in safe ways, such as drop boxes, drug take-back events, or disposal pouches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-4\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-4\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-4\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-4\">\n                Know How to Talk About Suicide            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h3>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\nMany people who die by suicide tell someone about their suicidal intent. This is an opportunity to take action and get them help.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Men<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>27% disclosed intent<\/li>\n<li>35% history of suicidal thoughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Women<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>26% disclosed intent<\/li>\n<li>42% history of suicidal thoughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">Resources on How to Help People<\/h2>\n<p>Find guidance on suicide and suicide prevention, such as helpful overviews, fact sheets, data, and more.<\/p>\n<dl class=\"osc-deslist   oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<dt>NC Department of Health and Human Services<\/dt><dd>Data, fact sheets, and other resources that help uncover the impact of suicide in North Carolina.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/injuryfreenc.dph.ncdhhs.gov\/DataSurveillance\/SuicideData.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">See These Fact Sheets and Resources<\/a><\/dd>\n<dt>American Foundation for Suicide Prevention<\/dt><dd>List of simple action steps you can take to talk with someone who is at risk for suicide.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/what-to-do-when-someone-is-at-risk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View These Steps from AFSP<\/a><\/dd>\n<dt>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/dt><dd>A thorough overview of suicide from background information and data to fact sheets, suicide prevention guidance, and more.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More From CDC<\/a><\/dd>\n<dt>National Center for Health Statistics<\/dt><dd>Interactive map that shows suicide mortality by state.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/pressroom\/sosmap\/suicide-mortality\/suicide.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">See the Interactive Map<\/a><\/dd>\n<dt>NC Department of Health and Human Services<\/dt><dd>Population-specific fact sheets on the impact of suicide among veterans, youth, older adults, and more.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/injuryfreenc.dph.ncdhhs.gov\/DataSurveillance\/ViolentDeathData.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Access These Fact Sheets<\/a><\/dd>\n<dt>American Foundation for Suicide Prevention<\/dt><dd>National statistics and perspective on the impact of suicide across the country.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/suicide-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">See This Data from AFSP<\/a><\/dd>\n<dt>NC Detect Mental Health Dashboard<\/dt><dd>An overview of hospital emergency department visit trends for select mental health conditions, including suicidal ideation.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ncdetect.org\/mental-health-dashboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">See This Dashboard<\/a><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<hr class=\" rule-thin osc-rule\" \/>\n<p><strong>Data Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Data and Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2025. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/suicide\/facts\/data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/suicide\/facts\/data.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li>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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/data\/report\/2023-nsduh-annual-national-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/data\/report\/2023-nsduh-annual-national-report<\/a><\/li>\n<li>North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Suicide and Self-inflicted Injury Death and Morbidity in North Carolina, 2022. Accessed April 1, 2025. <a href=\"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&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">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&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK<\/a><\/li>\n<li>North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. North Carolina 988 Performance Dashboard. Accessed April 1, 2025. <a href=\"https:\/\/dashboards.ncdhhs.gov\/t\/DMHDDSAS\/views\/988PerformanceDashboard112022thru102023_17002346658920\/988Dashboard?%3Aembed=y&amp;%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/dashboards.ncdhhs.gov\/t\/DMHDDSAS\/views\/988PerformanceDashboard112022thru102023_17002346658920\/988Dashboard?%3Aembed=y&amp;%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The rise in deaths by suicides coincides with a dramatic rise in unmet mental health needs. Crisis Services in North Carolina Mental Health and Suicide Deaths in North Carolina3 Find guidance on suicide and suicide prevention, such as helpful overviews, fact sheets, data, and more. Data Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Data &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Suicide is a Major Public Health Problem\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122763,"featured_media":0,"parent":18342,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-19541","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Data on Suicide Shows That it is a Public Health Problem<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you want to help advance suicide prevention strategies, take a moment to digest the data on the impact of suicide in the U.S. and in North Carolina.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Data on Suicide Shows That it is a Public Health Problem\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you want to help advance suicide prevention strategies, take a moment to digest the data on the impact of suicide in the U.S. and in North Carolina.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Department of Psychiatry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-12T14:17:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"154\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/\",\"name\":\"Data on Suicide Shows That it is a Public Health Problem\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-20T17:35:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-12T14:17:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"If you want to help advance suicide prevention strategies, take a moment to digest the data on the impact of suicide in the U.S. and in North Carolina.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":154,\"caption\":\"Illustration of ten simplified female figures in a row, with seven in blue and three in gray, representing a 70\/30 proportion.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Suicide Prevention Institute\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Suicide is a Major Public Health Problem\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/\",\"name\":\"Department of Psychiatry\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UNC Chapel Hill Department of Psychiatry\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2017\/06\/Psychiatry_logo_rgb_h.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2017\/06\/Psychiatry_logo_rgb_h.png\",\"width\":982,\"height\":151,\"caption\":\"UNC Chapel Hill Department of Psychiatry\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Data on Suicide Shows That it is a Public Health Problem","description":"If you want to help advance suicide prevention strategies, take a moment to digest the data on the impact of suicide in the U.S. and in North Carolina.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Data on Suicide Shows That it is a Public Health Problem","og_description":"If you want to help advance suicide prevention strategies, take a moment to digest the data on the impact of suicide in the U.S. and in North Carolina.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/","og_site_name":"Department of Psychiatry","article_modified_time":"2026-06-12T14:17:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":154,"url":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/","url":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/","name":"Data on Suicide Shows That it is a Public Health Problem","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png","datePublished":"2026-04-20T17:35:09+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-12T14:17:59+00:00","description":"If you want to help advance suicide prevention strategies, take a moment to digest the data on the impact of suicide in the U.S. and in North Carolina.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/04\/SPI-7-out-of-10-women.png","width":1024,"height":154,"caption":"Illustration of ten simplified female figures in a row, with seven in blue and three in gray, representing a 70\/30 proportion."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Suicide Prevention Institute","item":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Suicide is a Major Public Health Problem"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/","name":"Department of Psychiatry","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#organization","name":"UNC Chapel Hill Department of Psychiatry","url":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2017\/06\/Psychiatry_logo_rgb_h.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2017\/06\/Psychiatry_logo_rgb_h.png","width":982,"height":151,"caption":"UNC Chapel Hill Department of Psychiatry"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links_to":[],"_links_to_target":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/122763"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19541"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19996,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19541\/revisions\/19996"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}