Maine Youth Suicide Quick Facts
Go to Maine Youth Suicide Quick Facts
Go to Suicide Quick Facts
Maine Youth Suicide QUICK Facts
Suicide:
- From 2001-2005 there was a total of 810 suicides in Maine. Of those suicides, 101 were youth: five youth aged 10-14; forty-three 15-19 year olds; and fifty-three young adults aged 20-24. This represents an average of 20 youth suicides per year.
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth aged 15-24, and the 3rd leading cause of death for youth aged 10-14.
- More young people die by suicide than from homicide. For every homicide among 15-24 year olds, there are 4 to 5 suicides.
- More male youth die by suicide than female. Of every 5 suicides, 4 are males.
Self-Inflicted Injuries:
- Most suicidal behavior is not fatal. It is estimated that, for every completed suicide, there are from 25 to 100 non-fatal youth suicide attempts. Rates of self-inflicted injuries for females are higher than rates for males.
- From 2001-2005, there were 1,677 hospitalizations for self-inflicted injuries among children and youth aged 10-24, an average of 335 a year. Children aged 10-14 made 183 visits, adolescents aged 15-19 made 856 of these visits, young adults between the ages of 20-24 made 638 visits. The female 15-19 age group had the highest overall rate, 33.5 per 10,000, of hospitalization for self-inflicted injuries across all age groups.
- In the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 11.2% of high school and 17% of middle school students reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. 4.8% of high school and 6% of middle school students reported making at least one attempt.
Lethal Means:
- From 2001 to 2005, a firearm was used in nearly 6 of 10 youth suicides. Access to and availability of firearms is a significant factor in youth suicide, because most suicide attempts by firearm are fatal.
- A firearm was used in almost 65% of male and 30% of female youth (ages 10-24) suicides.
- The second leading method of youth suicide is hanging, accounting for nearly 4 of 10 suicides. Between 2001 and 2005, hanging accounted for 34% of male suicides and 47% of female suicides among youth aged 10 to 24.
- Poisoning is the most common method of non-fatal self-inflicted injury for both males and females.
Resources:
- For immediate help in a crisis, call the Statewide Toll Free Crisis Line: 1-888-568-1112 to be connected to a crisis worker near you.
- For more information or youth suicide prevention materials, call 1-800-499-0027 or
207-287-8900; TTY: 1-800-606-0215; email the Information Resources Center at osa.ircosa@maine.gov, or visit the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program Web Site at http://www.mainesuicideprevention.org
Data from the Maine Office of Data, Research, & Vital Statistics, Maine Hospital Discharge Databases, and Maine YRBS.
Developed by the Maine Injury Prevention Program, Maine CDC, Maine DHHS Updated July 2008
