Suicide Prevention Resources

Definitions:

• Self-directed Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements pdf icon[1.3 MB, 96 Pages]
  The definitions and data elements publication was developed to address the lack of uniform definitions and to improve and standardize data collected on self-directed violence.

Fact Sheets:

• Preventing Suicide Fact Sheet pdf icon[PDF – 394 KB]
  CDC’s fact sheet that includes definitions, consequences, and prevention strategies for preventing suicide.
• Suicide Rising Across the US: Vital Signs Fact Sheet pdf icon[824 KB, 4 pages]
  The Vital Signs fact sheet featuring suicide trends and circumstances contributing to suicide.

CDC Reports:

• The State of State, Territorial, and Tribal Suicide Prevention: Findings from a Web-Based Survey pdf icon[PDF – 1 MB]
  This report provides results of a web-based survey that asked states, territories, and select tribes a variety of questions about suicide prevention infrastructure and prevention activities.
• Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs, and Practices pdf icon[6.11 MB, 62 Pages, 508]
  This technical package represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities and states sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to prevent suicide. Also available in Spanishpdf icon[34 MB, 64 Pages, 508]
• Recommendations for Media Reporting on Suicide external icon
  This resource presents best practices for online media, message boards, bloggers, and citizen journalists when covering suicide in the media.
• Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Leveraging the Best Available Evidence  pdf icon[4 MB, 40 Pages, 508]
  This is a resource to help states and communities leverage the best available evidence to prevent ACEs from happening in the first place, as well as lessen harms when ACEs do occur. It features six strategies drawn from the CDC Technical Packages to Prevent Violence.
• The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools  pdf icon[4.7 MB, 10 Pages, 508]
  This document provides concrete, action-oriented information to help improve schools’ understanding of and ability to prevent and respond to the problem of bullying and suicide-related behavior.

Other Publications:

• National Strategy for Suicide Preventionexternal icon
  This revised national strategy emphasizes the role every American can play in protecting friends, family members, and colleagues from suicide. It also provides guidance for schools, businesses, health systems, clinicians, and many other sectors. This guidance takes into account nearly a decade of research and other advancements in the field since the last strategy was published.
• World Health Organization Report on Preventing Suicide  pdf icon[5.11 KB, 92 Pages, Print Only] external icon
  Preventing suicide: A global imperative aims to increase awareness of the public health significance of suicide and suicide attempts, to make suicide prevention a higher priority on the global public health agenda, and to encourage and support countries to develop or strengthen comprehensive suicide prevention strategies in a multisector public health approach.
• Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals—Update 2017 [30 KB, 29 Pages, Print Only]external icon
  This resource is a product of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). It is addressed to media professionals who play a role in suicide prevention.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs):

• Czeisler M, Lane R, Petrosky E, et al. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic – United States, June 24-30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Aug 14; 69(32): 1049-1057. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1. PMID: 32790653; PMCID: PMC7440121.
• Ivey-Stephenson A, Demissie Z, Crosby A, et al. Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors Among High School Students – Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. MMWR Suppl. 2020 Aug 21; 69(1): 47-55. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.su6901a6. PMID: 32817610; PMCID: PMC7440198.
• Sumner S, Burke M, Kooti F. Adherence to suicide reporting guidelines by news shared on a social networking platformexternal icon. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Jul 14;117(28):16267-16272. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2001230117. Epub 2020 Jul 6. PMID: 32631982; PMCID: PMC7368318.

• Johns M, Lowry R, Andrzejewski J, et al. Transgender Identity and Experiences of Violence Victimization, Substance Use, Suicide Risk, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — 19 States and Large Urban School Districts, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019; 68: 67–71. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6803a3
• Annor F, Zwald M, Wilkinson A, et al. Characteristics of and Precipitating Circumstances Surrounding Suicide Among Persons Aged 10–17 Years — Utah, 2011–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67: 329–332. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6711a4.
• Johns M, Lowry R, Rasberry C, et al. Violence Victimization, Substance Use, and Suicide Risk Among Sexual Minority High School Students — United States, 2015–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67: 1211–1215. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6743a4
• Kegler S, Dahlberg L, Mercy J. Firearm Homicides and Suicides in Major Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2012–2013 and 2015–2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67: 1233–1237. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6744a3.
• Leavitt R, Ertl A, Sheats K, Petrosky E, Ivey-Stephenson A, Fowler K. Suicides Among American Indian/Alaska Natives — National Violent Death Reporting System, 18 States, 2003–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67:237–242. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6708a1.
• Peterson C, Stone D, Marsh S, et al. Suicide Rates by Major Occupational Group — 17 States, 2012 and 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67: 1253–1260. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a1.
• Stone D, Simon T, Fowler K, et al. Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates — United States, 1999–2016 and Circumstances Contributing to Suicide — 27 States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67: 617–624. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6722a1external icon.
• Zwald M, Annor F, Wilkinson A, et al. Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among Students in Grades 8, 10, and 12 — Utah, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67: 451–454. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6715a4.
• Ivey-Stephenson A, Crosby A, Jack S, et al. Suicide Trends Among and Within Urbanization Levels by Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Age Group, and Mechanism of Death — United States, 2001–2015. MMWR Surveill Summ 2017; 66(No. SS-18): 1–16. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6618a1.
• David-Ferdon C, Crosby A, Caine E, et al. CDC Public Health Grand Rounds: Preventing Suicide Through a Comprehensive Public Health Approach. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016; 65(34): 894–897.
• Nett R, Wittel T, Holzbauer S, et al. Notes from the field: prevalence of risk factors for suicide among veterinarians – United States, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015; 64(5): 131-132.
• Sullivan E, Annest J, Simon T, et al. Suicide Trends Among Persons Aged 10–24 Years — United States, 1994–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015; 64(08): 201-205.

CDC Data Sources:

• CDC WONDER: Wide Ranging OnLine Data for Epidemiologic Research
  CDC WONDER manages nearly 20 collections of public-use data for U.S. births, deaths, cancer diagnoses, tuberculosis cases, vaccinations, environmental exposures, and population estimates, among many other topics. These data collections are available as online databases, which provide public access to ad-hoc queries, summary statistics, maps, charts, and data extracts.
• National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP)
  NEISS-AIP provides nationally representative data about all types and causes of nonfatal injuries treated in United States hospital emergency departments. CDC uses NEISS-AIP data to generate national estimates of nonfatal injuries, including those related to self-harm.
• National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)
  NAMCS collects data on the utilization and provision of ambulatory care services in hospital emergency and outpatient departments.
• National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
  CDC funds the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to gather, share, and link state-level data on violent deaths. NVDRS provides CDC and states with a more complete understanding of violent deaths. This enables policy makers and community leaders to make informed decisions about violence prevention programs, including those that address suicide.
• The National Vital Statistics System
  The National Vital Statistics System is the oldest and most successful example of inter-governmental data sharing. This system includes nationwide data on deaths due to all causes, including suicide.
• Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
  CDC’s YRBSS monitors health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems, including suicide attempts and related behaviors, among 9^th through 12^th grade students in the United States.

Leading Causes:

• Animated Top Ten Leading Causes of Death in the U.S.
• Create your own leading causes of death chart through WISQARS.

Suicide Mapping:

• Web-based Injury Statistics Query And Reporting System (WISQARS)
  CDC’s interactive, online database that provides fatal and nonfatal injury, violent death, and cost of injury data.

• • WISQARS tutorials
  • Create your own US state- or county-level map.

Other Federal Data Sources:

• National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) external icon
  NSDUH provides up-to-date information on substance use, mental health conditions, and suicide-related behaviors in the United States.

Non-Federal Data Sources:

• Global Health Observatory (GHO) Dataexternal icon
  GHO is WHO’s gateway to health-related statistics for more than 1,000 indicators for its 194 Member States.
• National Inpatient Sample (NIS) external icon
  The NIS is a database of hospital inpatient stays used to identify, track, and analyze national trends in health care utilization, access, charges, quality, and outcomes including injuries from suicide attempts.

CDC Resources:

• Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event
  CDC’s web page on mental health during and after a disaster includes information on coping with the stress that results from natural and manmade traumatic events.
• Suicide and Violence Prevention among Gay and Bisexual Men
  This CDC web page provides suicide prevention resources and information for gay and bisexual men, and other men who might encounter homophobia, harassment, and violent acts.
• Suicide Rising Across the US: CDC Vital Signs Report
  This Vital Signs web page includes an MMWR on state suicide trends and circumstances contributing to suicide, a graphic fact sheet and website, a media release, and social media tools featuring the topic of suicide.
• Mental Health
  This page provides information on all of CDC’s work related to mental health.
• Suicide in Rural America
  CDC’s web page on suicide in rural areas provides reports, a policy brief, a press release, and suicide prevention resources.
• Injury Center Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOFOs)
  CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control’s web page contains information about funding opportunity announcements.

Other Federal Resources:

• U.S. Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office external icon
  The U.S. Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office oversees the suicide prevention work across all branches of the military.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Preventionexternal icon
  The VA provides health and mental health services to U.S. veterans. This page provides information about mental health conditions, including suicide prevention, and how veterans can get help.
• Indian Health Service Suicide Prevention Programexternal icon
  This national initiative to prevent suicide is based on fostering collaborations across tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and the entire Indian Health System.
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Preventionexternal icon
  The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention is the public-private partnership advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention [4.93 MB, 184 Pages] .external icon
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) external icon
  NCTSN works to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families, and communities throughout the United States.
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) external icon
  NIMH is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon
  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are routed to the nearest crisis center in a national network, where callers receive crisis counseling and mental health referrals.
• Programs and Practices: Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) external icon
  This registry, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, identifies, reviews, and disseminates information about best practices that address specific objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Suicide Prevention Program (SAMHSA) external icon
  SAMHSA is the federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses.
• BeThe1Toexternal icon
  This is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s campaign for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, spreading the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide.

• Coping with Stress After a Traumatic Event  pdf icon[570.2 KB, 2 Pages, 508]
• SAMHSA Disaster Distressexternal icon
• American Psychological Associationexternal icon
• Disaster Distress Helpline: call or text 1-800-985-5990
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-888-628-9454 for Spanish-speaking callers)
• Youth Mental Health Line: 1-888-568-1112
• Child-Help USA: 1-800-422-4453 (24-hour toll-free)