National Statistics
Suicide is a serious public health concern and a leading cause of death in the United States, with 45,979 deaths in 2020. This is about one death every 11 minutes.3 The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2020, an estimated 12.2 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.2 million attempted suicide.
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For a breakdown of rates and other statistics by state, click here.
The map below shows that New York State has one of the lowest suicide rates in the United States. Nevertheless, each loss to suicide is one too many and further work must be done to mitigate the risk. New York state has implemented a robust set of initiatives to reduce the risk of suicide and create awareness within communities. See more statistics for New York State here.
We know that there are many factors and life experiences that contribute to the risk of suicide.  Loss of all kinds, including loss of independence, mobility, health, relationships, financial security, and sense of purpose may all impact risk of suicide.  Mental health conditions, including depression are also significant risk factors. Life experience, such as trauma, may also increase risk. Suicide impacts individuals across all cultural, racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. 
Risk can be mitigated. Connection to others, maintaining a sense of purpose, and appropriate diagnosis and treatment when needed can all help to prevent risk of suicide.