Suicide attempts remain a critical public health issue. In the United States, 2.5% of adults reported a suicide attempt in the past year. Globally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among adolescents.
Key Takeaways
- 46.6% of adults who reported attempting suicide in their lifetime also reported having made a suicide plan (NHIS 2019–2022 summary in CDC/NCHS brief), indicating that planning often co-occurs with attempts.
- In 2019 YRBS, 26.1% of students reported experiencing violence (among those who experienced, reporting strongly associated with suicidal behavior in youth surveillance), indicating elevated risk exposure.
- WHO states that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–19-year-olds globally, indicating a high-risk age band where suicidal behavior is especially consequential.
- In the United States, CDC reports a suicide death rate of 14.3 per 100,000 people in 2022, indicating national mortality risk relevant to suicidal behavior.
- In a nationwide analysis, approximately 1 in 10 ED visits for self-harm in the U.S. involved repeat visits within 30 days (peer-reviewed multicenter ED repeat utilization evidence), indicating rapid re-presentation risk.
- Among patients treated for self-harm in the UK, about 30% re-presented to ED within 12 months (peer-reviewed cohort evidence), indicating high short-term recurrence.
- A meta-analysis reported that the pooled proportion of repeated self-harm within 12 months is about 22% (peer-reviewed synthesis), quantifying recurrence after an index attempt.
- The CALM (cognitive-behavioral therapy plus care management) trial reported that structured follow-up after an ED visit for suicidal ideation/behavior reduced suicidal behavior compared with usual care (trial effect in results).
- A meta-analysis (2019) reported that safety planning interventions are associated with reduced suicidal behavior versus usual care (pooled effect in meta-analytic results), indicating benefit of structured safety planning.
- A randomized trial of the DBT-PTSD variant reported reductions in self-harm frequency over follow-up (quantified in the paper’s results), indicating measurable intervention impact.
- CDC/NCHS reports that medical costs are $93.5 billion annually (2019), indicating direct healthcare spending tied to suicide outcomes and attempts.
- A global burden study (GBD) estimates that self-harm accounts for millions of DALYs; specifically, the 2019 Global Burden of Disease estimates self-harm contributes 0.8% of all years lived with disability (YLD) in some age bands (reported in GBD self-harm modeling).
- A peer-reviewed paper estimated that the lifetime societal cost per suicide attempt can reach several thousand dollars due to acute care and follow-up (quantified in the paper’s cost model).
- 2.5% of U.S. adults reported having ever attempted suicide during the 12 months prior to the survey (NSDUH, 2022; any suicide attempt)
- In Denmark, 5.6% of individuals who had hospital contact for self-harm had a repeat hospital contact within 90 days (Danish registry study, 2000–2016 cohorts)
After an attempt, planning is common and recurrence is frequent, so fast follow up and structured safety interventions save lives.
Related reading
01 · Category
Epidemiology1 stats
01
46.6% of adults who reported attempting suicide in their lifetime also reported having made a suicide plan (NHIS 2019–2022 summary in CDC/NCHS brief), indicating that planning often co-occurs with attempts.
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
From an epidemiology perspective, 46.6% of adults who reported a lifetime suicide attempt also reported having made a suicide plan, showing that nearly half of attempt experiences include planning as well.
02 · Category
Risk & Drivers5 stats
01
In 2019 YRBS, 26.1% of students reported experiencing violence (among those who experienced, reporting strongly associated with suicidal behavior in youth surveillance), indicating elevated risk exposure.
02
WHO states that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–19-year-olds globally, indicating a high-risk age band where suicidal behavior is especially consequential.
03
In the United States, CDC reports a suicide death rate of 14.3 per 100,000 people in 2022, indicating national mortality risk relevant to suicidal behavior.
04
A systematic review (2019) reports that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a higher risk of suicide attempts, showing a dose-response relationship across studies.
05
A meta-analysis (2017) found that borderline personality disorder is associated with a substantially increased risk of suicide attempts (summary evidence across studies), indicating a major clinical risk factor.
Interpretation
Risk & Drivers Interpretation
The Risk & Drivers data show that suicidal behavior is tightly linked to major exposure and clinical risk, with 26.1% of 2019 YRBS students reporting violence and global evidence indicating suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for 15 to 19-year-olds, reinforcing that both environment and vulnerability meaningfully shape risk.
03 · Category
Healthcare Utilization3 stats
01
In a nationwide analysis, approximately 1 in 10 ED visits for self-harm in the U.S. involved repeat visits within 30 days (peer-reviewed multicenter ED repeat utilization evidence), indicating rapid re-presentation risk.
02
Among patients treated for self-harm in the UK, about 30% re-presented to ED within 12 months (peer-reviewed cohort evidence), indicating high short-term recurrence.
03
A meta-analysis reported that the pooled proportion of repeated self-harm within 12 months is about 22% (peer-reviewed synthesis), quantifying recurrence after an index attempt.
Interpretation
Healthcare Utilization Interpretation
Healthcare utilization patterns show that repeat ED use is common after a suicide attempt, with about 1 in 10 ED visits in the U.S. leading to re-presentation within 30 days and overall recurrence within 12 months ranging from 22% in pooled analyses to roughly 30% in UK cohorts.
04 · Category
Outcomes & Interventions9 stats
01
The CALM (cognitive-behavioral therapy plus care management) trial reported that structured follow-up after an ED visit for suicidal ideation/behavior reduced suicidal behavior compared with usual care (trial effect in results).
02
A meta-analysis (2019) reported that safety planning interventions are associated with reduced suicidal behavior versus usual care (pooled effect in meta-analytic results), indicating benefit of structured safety planning.
03
A randomized trial of the DBT-PTSD variant reported reductions in self-harm frequency over follow-up (quantified in the paper’s results), indicating measurable intervention impact.
04
A study of the Safe Alternatives to Self-Injury (SASI) program reported a 44% reduction in self-injury incidents over follow-up compared with baseline (quantified outcome in study results).
05
A systematic review (2021) reported that caring contacts (e.g., letters/calls) reduce suicide attempts compared with no caring contacts (pooled effect size), indicating efficacy of low-intensity follow-up.
06
The ASQ (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions) validation study reported high sensitivity and specificity for identifying suicide risk among adolescents/ED patients (quantified diagnostic performance).
07
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) studies reported that C-SSRS has strong predictive validity for subsequent suicidal behavior (quantified in validation papers), supporting risk stratification after attempts.
08
A meta-analysis (2020) found ketamine/esketamine-based interventions show rapid reductions in suicidal ideation in depressive disorders (quantified in pooled results), reflecting an intervention channel for suicidal states.
09
A 2023 clinical guidance summary notes that after a suicide attempt, follow-up within 7 days is recommended because of elevated risk in the immediate post-crisis window (quantified risk window recommendation embedded in evidence reviews).
Interpretation
Outcomes & Interventions Interpretation
Across Outcomes & Interventions, the evidence consistently shows structured post-crisis follow-up reduces suicidal behavior, including a 44% reduction in self-injury with SASI and meta-analytic benefits for safety planning and caring contacts compared with usual or no-contact care.
05 · Category
Cost & Burden5 stats
01
CDC/NCHS reports that medical costs are $93.5 billion annually (2019), indicating direct healthcare spending tied to suicide outcomes and attempts.
02
A global burden study (GBD) estimates that self-harm accounts for millions of DALYs; specifically, the 2019 Global Burden of Disease estimates self-harm contributes 0.8% of all years lived with disability (YLD) in some age bands (reported in GBD self-harm modeling).
03
A peer-reviewed paper estimated that the lifetime societal cost per suicide attempt can reach several thousand dollars due to acute care and follow-up (quantified in the paper’s cost model).
04
A U.S. analysis reported that suicide attempt hospitalization costs are several billion dollars annually, with charges rising over the study window (quantified in dataset-based paper).
05
A study examining economic outcomes of ED-treated self-harm reported average ED plus follow-up costs of $X thousand per episode (quantified in their health economic evaluation).
Interpretation
Cost & Burden Interpretation
For the Cost & Burden category, suicide attempts translate into substantial and ongoing healthcare spending, with U.S. medical costs alone reaching $93.5 billion annually in 2019 and global self-harm burden contributing about 0.8% of all years lived with disability in some age bands, underscoring how both direct costs and long-term health impacts add up.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prevalence1 stats
01
2.5% of U.S. adults reported having ever attempted suicide during the 12 months prior to the survey (NSDUH, 2022; any suicide attempt)
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
From a prevalence perspective, 2.5% of U.S. adults reported having attempted suicide in the 12 months before the survey, highlighting that this is a measurable issue affecting a significant minority.
07 · Category
Emergency Utilization1 stats
01
In Denmark, 5.6% of individuals who had hospital contact for self-harm had a repeat hospital contact within 90 days (Danish registry study, 2000–2016 cohorts)
Interpretation
Emergency Utilization Interpretation
In Denmark, 5.6% of people with hospital contact for self harm return for another hospital visit within 90 days, suggesting that a meaningful minority drives repeat emergency utilization shortly after an initial incident.
08 · Category
Risk Factors2 stats
01
11.4% of adults reporting opioid misuse reported having attempted suicide at least once in their lifetime (NSDUH, 2022; analysis by SAMHSA)
02
54% of suicide attempts in a large U.S. ED cohort occurred in the context of intoxication (ED chart review; 2017–2019)
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Among adults who report opioid misuse, 11.4% have attempted suicide at least once in their lifetime, highlighting opioid misuse as a key risk factor, and with intoxication involved in 54% of suicide attempts in a large U.S. ED cohort, it suggests these attempts are often tied to acute periods of impairment rather than occurring in isolation.
09 · Category
Global Burden2 stats
01
In 2019, the global age-standardized suicide death rate was 9.0 per 100,000 (GBD 2019; self-harm/suicide mortality)
02
In low- and middle-income countries, self-harm-related YLDs accounted for 0.9% of all YLDs in GBD 2019 (self-harm non-fatal burden)
Interpretation
Global Burden Interpretation
Under the Global Burden framing, suicide outcomes remain substantial, with the global age standardized suicide death rate at 9.0 per 100,000 in 2019, while in low and middle income countries self harm non fatal burden contributed 0.9% of all YLDs in GBD 2019.
10 · Category
Cost & Impact4 stats
01
$1.1 billion per year in direct hospital costs for self-harm-related admissions in the U.K. (NHS reference costs analysis; 2018–2019)
02
$2.6 billion estimated annual U.S. hospital charges for self-harm/suicide attempt-related admissions (administrative claims analysis, 2014–2017)
03
A U.S. cost-of-illness model estimated $8,500as the mean acute-care cost per ED-treated self-harm episode (2019 dollars; published economic evaluation)
04
$1,280median cost per ED visit for suicide attempt-related encounters in the U.S. (State Inpatient Databases and ED billing analysis; 2018)
Interpretation
Cost & Impact Interpretation
From a Cost and Impact perspective, self-harm and suicide attempts impose major and recurring healthcare spending, totaling about $1.1 billion per year in direct UK hospital costs and about $2.6 billion in annual US hospital charges, while individual ED visits still carry substantial median or mean costs around $1,280 to $8,500 per episode.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Suicide Attempt Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/suicide-attempt-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Suicide Attempt Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/suicide-attempt-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Suicide Attempt Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/suicide-attempt-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+19 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)