Suicide attempts affect people across the lifespan, with especially high risk during adolescence and young adulthood. Evidence covers both who is affected and how the burden shows up—from emergency departments and repeat return visits to community settings. We also look at factors that often co-occur, including substance use, exposure to violence, and adverse childhood experiences, and summarize what research says can help after an episode.
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)
Nearly half of past suicide attempters made plans, while recurrence and costs remain high without timely follow up.
Related reading
01 · 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 and Interventions, multiple studies suggest that targeted, structured supports meaningfully lower suicidal behavior, including a 44% reduction in self-injury with SASI and safety planning interventions that outperform usual care in reducing suicidal behavior.
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
From a Risk and Drivers perspective, the data show that suicide risk is tightly linked to key contributing factors such as violence exposure, with 26.1% of students in the 2019 YRBS reporting violence, alongside the broader reality that suicide remains a leading cause of death for 15 to 19-year-olds globally and in the US the 2022 suicide death rate was 14.3 per 100,000 people.
03 · 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
Across multiple studies, suicide attempt–related costs are substantial, with U.S. medical spending linked to suicide outcomes reaching $93.5 billion per year in 2019 and the broader global burden reflected in millions of DALYs, underscoring a major Cost and Burden on healthcare systems and society.
More related reading
04 · 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
Across the U.K. and U.S., suicide attempts impose huge ongoing Cost & Impact burdens, with direct hospital costs rising from $1.1 billion per year in the U.K. to $2.6 billion in U.S. hospital charges annually, and per-episode emergency care averaging roughly $8,500 to $1,280 per ED visit depending on the study.
05 · Category
Healthcare Utilization9 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.
04
19.8% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated for self-harm in England (follow-up period after index ED attendance)
05
24.0% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated for self-harm in Scotland (follow-up period after index ED attendance)
06
16.8% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated for self-harm in Wales (follow-up period after index ED attendance)
07
21.1% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated for self-harm in Northern Ireland (follow-up period after index ED attendance)
08
18.4% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm in the overall U.K. cohort (follow-up period after index ED attendance)
09
20.6% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm among those in the cohort analyzed from the study dataset (follow-up period after index ED attendance)
Interpretation
Healthcare Utilization Interpretation
From an emergency-department utilization standpoint, repeat use is substantial after self-harm, with about 1 in 10 ED visits in the U.S. leading to a return within 30 days and UK patients showing roughly a 30% re-presentation rate within 12 months, aligning with a meta-analysis pooled estimate of about 22% repeated self-harm within a year.
report visual · Comparison
30-day repeat emergency department presentations after self-harm (by nation)
Within 30 days after index self-harm, repeat ED presentations are highest in Scotland (leader), with England and Northern Ireland both above the overall U.K. rate, and Wales the lo
24.0% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated f24.0%
21.1% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated f21.1%
19.8% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated f19.8%
18.4% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm in the overall U.K. cohor18.4%
16.8% of patients re-presented to an emergency department within 30 days after index self-harm, among patients treated f16.8%
source-verifiedpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
06 · Category
Industry Overview7 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)
03
In 2019, the global age-standardized suicide death rate was 9.0 per 100,000 (GBD 2019; self-harm/suicide mortality)
04
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)
05
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.
06
2.5% of U.S. adults reported having ever attempted suicide during the 12 months prior to the survey (NSDUH, 2022; any suicide attempt)
07
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
Industry Overview Interpretation
The industry overview data show that suicide risk is widespread and often linked to substance use and severity, with 11.4% of adults reporting opioid misuse reporting a suicide attempt and 54% of ED-recorded attempts occurring with intoxication.
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
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+20 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)