Publications
Preventing Suicide Fact Sheet [PDF – 2 pages]
CDC’s fact sheet that includes definitions, consequences, and prevention strategies for preventing suicide
Featured: Suicide Prevention Resource for Action
CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action (Prevention Resource) details the strategies with the best available evidence to reduce suicide. The Prevention Resource can help states and communities prioritize suicide prevention activities most likely to have an impact.
Often called “the voice of CDC,” the MMWR series is the agency’s primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. All material in the MMWR series is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without special permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.
Gaylor EM, Krause KH, Welder LE, et al. Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021. MMWR Suppl 2023;72(Suppl-1):45–54. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7201a6.
Farah R, Rege SV, Cole RJ, Holstege CP. Suspected Suicide Attempts by Self-Poisoning Among Persons Aged 10–19 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, 2020–2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:426–430. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7216a3.
Anderson KN, Swedo EA, Trinh E, et al. Adverse Childhood Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Associations with Poor Mental Health and Suicidal Behaviors Among High School Students — Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January–June 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1301–1305. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7141a2.
Stone D, Trinh E, Zhou H, et al. Suicides Among American Indian or Alaska Native Persons — National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2015–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1161–1168. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7137a1.
QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates for the Three Leading Methods of Suicide, by Race and Ethnicity — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:979. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7130a6.
Kegler SR, Simon TR, Zwald ML, et al. Vital Signs: Changes in Firearm Homicide and Suicide Rates — United States, 2019–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:656–663. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7119e1.
Ehlman DC, Yard E, Stone DM, Jones CM, Mack KA. Changes in Suicide Rates — United States, 2019 and 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:306–312. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7108a5.
Ivey-Stephenson AZ, Crosby AE, Hoenig JM, Gyawali S, Park-Lee E, Hedden SL. Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years — United States, 2015–2019. MMWR Surveill Summ 2022;71(No. SS-1):1–19. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7101a1.
Yard E, Radhakrishnan L, Ballesteros MF, et al. Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Suicide Attempts Among Persons Aged 12–25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019–May 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:888–894. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7024e1.
Stewart A, Ko J, Salvesen von Essen B, et al. Association of Mental Health Conditions, Recent Stressful Life Events, and Adverse Childhood Experiences with Postpartum Substance Use ― Seven States, 2019–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:416–420. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7216a1.
Stone DM, Mack KA, Qualters J. Notes from the Field: Recent Changes in Suicide Rates, by Race and Ethnicity and Age Group — United States, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:160–162. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7206a4.
Simon TR, Kegler SR, Zwald ML, et al. Notes from the Field: Increases in Firearm Homicide and Suicide Rates — United States, 2020–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1286–1287. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7140a4.
QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates, by Urbanization Level and Sex — National Vital Statistics System, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1159. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7136a4.
QuickStats: Percentage of Suicides and Homicides Involving a Firearm Among Persons Aged ≥10 Years, by Age Group — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:670. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7119a5.
Jones SE, Ethier KA, Hertz M, et al. Mental Health, Suicidality, and Connectedness Among High School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic — Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January–June 2021. MMWR Suppl 2022;71(Suppl-3):16–21. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7103a3.
Sheats KJ, Wilson RF, Lyons BH, Jack SP, Betz CJ, Fowler KA. Surveillance for Violent Deaths — National Violent Death Reporting System, 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2018. MMWR Surveill Summ 2022;71(No. SS-3):1–44. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7103a1.
Kegler SR, Stone DM, Mercy JA, Dahlberg LL. Firearm Homicides and Suicides in Major Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2015–2016 and 2018–2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:14–18. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7101a3.
Stone DM, Jones CM, Mack KA. Changes in Suicide Rates — United States, 2018–2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:261–268. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7008a1.
Czeisler M&, Board A, Thierry JM, et al. Mental Health and Substance Use Among Adults with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, February–March 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:1142–1149. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7034a3.
To read previously published MMWRs, please visit: Reports by Topic | MMWR (cdc.gov)
Rice, K., Brown, M., Nataraj, N., & Xu, L. (2023). Circumstances contributing to suicide among U.S. adolescents 10–19 years with and without a known mental health condition: National Violent Death Reporting System, 2013–2018. Journal of Adolescent Health.
Ehlman, D. C., Haileyesus, T., Lee, R., Ballesteros, M. F., & Yard, E. (2021). Evaluation of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All injury program’s self-directed violence data, United States, 2018. Journal of Safety Research, 76, 327-331.
Wilkins, N. J., Clayton, H., Jones, C. M., & Brown, M. (2021). Current prescription opioid misuse and suicide risk behaviors among high school students. Pediatrics, 147(4).
Sumner, S. A., Burke, M., & Kooti, F. (2020). Adherence to suicide reporting guidelines by news shared on a social networking platform. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(28), 16267-16272.
Miller, G. F., Kegler, S. R., & Stone, D. M. (2020). Traumatic Brain Injury–Related Deaths From Firearm Suicide: United States, 2008–2017. American Journal of Public Health, 110(6), 897-899.
Holland, K. M., Jones, C., Vivolo-Kantor, A. M., et al. (2021). Trends in US emergency department visits for mental health, overdose, and violence outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(4), 372-379.
Bledsoe, M., Captanian, A., & Somji, A. (2021). Special Report from the CDC: Strengthening social connections to prevent suicide and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Actions and opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Safety Research, 77, 328-333.
Wang, J., Sumner, S. A., Holland, K. M., Halpin, J., Ivey-Stephenson, A., & Crosby, A. E. (2020). National trends in hospitalizations for self-directed violence related to opioids and/or depression — United States, 2000–2015. Preventive Medicine, 134, 106051.
Wang, J., Sumner, S. A., Simon, T. R., Crosby, A. E., Annor, F. B., Gaylor, E., … & Holland, K. M. (2020). Trends in the incidence and lethality of suicidal acts in the United States, 2006 to 2015. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(7), 684-693.
Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org
Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.
Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org.