Trends in the Prevalence of Suicide–Related Behaviors National YRBS: 1991—2019
The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors health behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. The national YRBS is conducted every two years during the spring semester and provides data representative of 9th through 12th grade students in public and private schools throughout the United States.
| Percentages | Trend from 1991–20191 | Change from 2017–20192 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | ||
| Seriously considered attempting suicide (during the 12 months before the survey) |
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| 29.0 | 24.1 | 24.1 | 20.5 | 19.3 | 19.0 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 14.5 | 13.8 | 15.8 | 17.0 | 17.7 | 17.2 | 18.8 | Decreased 1991—2019 Decreased 1991—2007 Increased 2007—2019 |
No change |
| Made a suicide plan (during the 12 months before the survey) |
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| 18.6 | 19.0 | 17.7 | 15.7 | 14.5 | 14.8 | 16.5 | 13.0 | 11.3 | 10.9 | 12.8 | 13.6 | 14.6 | 13.6 | 15.7 | Decreased 1991—2019 Decreased 1991—2009 Increased 2009—2019 |
Increased |
| Attempted suicide (one or more times during the 12 months before the survey) |
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| 7.3 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 7.7 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 8.9 | Decreased 1991—2019 | Increased |
| Made a suicide attempt that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse (during the 12 months before the survey) |
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| 1.7 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.5 | No change 1991—2019 | No change |
- Based on linear and quadratic trend analyses using logistic regression models controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, and grade, p < 0.05. Significant linear trends (if present) across all available years are described first followed by linear changes in each segment of significant quadratic trends (if present).
- Based on t-test analysis, p < 0.05.
Page last reviewed: August 20, 2020