QuickStats: Percentage of Suicide Deaths, by Mechanism* and Age Group — United States, 2011

Weekly

September 26, 2014 / 63(38);845

The figure is a bar chart showing the percentage of suicide deaths, by mechanism and age group, in the United States during 2011. In 2011, firearm was the leading mechanism for suicide deaths for all age groups, ranging from 44% of suicides among persons aged 5-24 years to 72% of suicides among persons aged ≥65 years. Suffocation (including hanging) was the second leading mechanism in the two younger age groups (41% of suicides among persons aged 5-24 years and 32% of suicides among persons aged 25-44 years). In contrast, poisoning (including drug overdose) was the second leading mechanism (22%) among adults aged 45-64 years and those aged ≥65 years (8%).

* Suicide deaths were categorized by mechanism of injury using the following International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes: firearm (X72–X74), suffocation (X70), poisoning (X60–X69) and other mechanisms (U03, X71, X75–X84, and Y87.0).

† 95% confidence interval.

In 2011, firearm was the leading mechanism for suicide deaths for all age groups, ranging from 44% of suicides among persons aged 5–24 years to 72% of suicides among persons aged ≥65 years. Suffocation was the second leading mechanism in the two younger age groups (41% of suicides among persons aged 5–24 years and 32% of suicides among persons aged 25–44 years). In contrast, poisoning was the second leading mechanism (22%) among adults aged 45–64 years and those aged ≥65 years (8%).

Source: National Vital Statistics System mortality data. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm.

Reported by: Yahtyng Sheu, PhD, ydq6@cdc.gov, 301-458-4354; Li-Hui Chen, PhD; Holly Hedegaard, MD.

Alternate Text: The figure above is a bar chart showing the percentage of suicide deaths, by mechanism and age group, in the United States during 2011. In 2011, firearm was the leading mechanism for suicide deaths for all age groups, ranging from 44% of suicides among persons aged 5-24 years to 72% of suicides among persons aged ≥65 years. Suffocation (including hanging) was the second leading mechanism in the two younger age groups (41% of suicides among persons aged 5-24 years and 32% of suicides among persons aged 25-44 years). In contrast, poisoning (including drug overdose) was the second leading mechanism (22%) among adults aged 45-64 years and those aged ≥65 years (8%).