Few things make for a more devastating reading than teen suicide statistics. Unfortunately, parents often aren’t aware of their child’s tough times, as teens are sensitive and have a hard time expressing their feelings.
Teenagers often share their thoughts on social media, yet, parents tend to overlook this form of expression. Sadly, sometimes it can be too late to prevent a child’s death, despite the multitude of potential warning signs.
Teenage Suicide Statistics (Editor’s Choice)
- Adolescent boys are five times more prone to committing suicide than girls their age
- In 2019, almost 19% of teenagers considered attempting suicide
- In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–19
- Four in ten LGBT youth are seriously contemplating self-harm
- Since 2007, the teenage suicide rate for those aged 10–24 has been increasing
- More than 55% of students know someone who self-harms or has committed suicide
- 80% of teens who committed suicide showed warning signs
- Six in ten parents report their children are cyberbullied
General Teenage Death Statistics
Many teenagers commit suicide every year worldwide, but awareness of the early signs can prevent some of those deaths. Disturbing as it is, it is essential to talk about the issue and show support and understanding to the kids suffering such thoughts.
Let’s take a look at some heart-breaking teenage suicides statistics.
1. Intentional self-harm is the second most common cause of death in 10-to-14-year-olds.
(CDC)
When it comes to teen mortality, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death, followed by suicide, and thirdly, cancer, stats on teenage suicide show.
2. Teenage boys aged 15 to 19 commit suicide five times more often than girls their age.
(MedicineNet)
In comparison, boys aged 10 to 14 are two times more likely to take their own lives than girls the same age, adolescent suicide facts reveal.
3. People between 15 and 29 years old commit one-third of all suicides.
(BMC Public Health)
Suicide statistics show that suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged from 15 to 29 years. Reasons associated with suicide are being bullied, suffering an injury, loneliness, and alcohol abuse.
Teen Mental Health Statistics
While it’s normal for teenagers to be emotional and experience moodiness, recognizing the signs of a mental illness or struggle is of utmost importance. Teens suffering from poor mental health are more likely to commit suicide, and being aware of their needs and challenges can help save their lives.
4. 50% of lifetime cases of mental illness will develop before a person becomes 17 years old.
(Adolescent Wellness Academy, Time)
Half the cases of long-term mental illness begin at 14 years and will be developed by 17.
Moreover, suicidal teenagers statistics show that in August 2020, there was a 334% spike in intentional self-harm in those aged 13–18 in the Northeast, in comparison to the same month in 2019.
5. Major depression cases in teens around the age of 17 rose by 69%.
(Adolescent Wellness Academy)
Approximately one in five teens suffers from at least one diagnosable mental illness, according to teen depression and suicide statistics.
6. Depression affects one-fifth of adolescents.
(MedicineNet)
Depression is a common occurrence during teenage years that lasts a year or longer in more than 8% of the cases.
7. In April 2020, requests for professional assistance with general anxiety disorder increased by 93.6%.
(FairHealth)
The social isolation and uncertainty accompanying the pandemic had a profound impact on the teens’ mental health. During March and April 2020, the number of teens aged between 13 and 18 years in anxiety therapy almost doubled compared to 2019.
US Youth Suicide Stats
There are many reasons teens decide to self-harm — mental illnesses, stress, school, bullying, or overwhelming events at home. Raising awareness of the most common triggers is essential in preventing teen suicides.
8. Suicide ranked third among the death causes for people aged 15–19 in 2020.
(CDC, US News)
With 2,216 suicides, 2020 marks the highest teen suicide rate since 2000.
Furthermore, teenage suicide stats note that since May 2020, there was an increase in the number of suicides among girls between the ages of 12 and 17, which reached its peak in February and March 2021.
9. 18.8% of teens seriously considered suicide in 2019.
(CDC)
Research in 2019 revealed that 18.8% of US students had been seriously contemplating suicide, and 15.7% decided how to do it. At the same time, about 8% have attempted to take their own lives at least once.
Girls, in general, are more inclined towards suicide ideation (24%), planning (20%), and attempting (11%) than boys, according to the US teen suicide rate.
10. Teen suicide rates for 10-to-24-year-olds have been increasing since 2007.
(UC Davis Health)
The rate of suicides committed by 10-to-24-year-olds has been increasing every year. It is likely due to poor mental health and lack of professional help.
Some of the signs parents should look out for are depression, withdrawal from family and friends, increasing substance use, losing interest in usual activities, or acting out.
11. 81% of deaths in the 10 to 24 age group were male.
(CDC)
While girls are more likely to report suicide attempts, the percentage of teen suicide acts divides into 19% female and 81% male cases.
12. Rhode Island has the lowest suicide rate among teens in the US — five out of 100,000 adolescents.
(America’s Health Ranking)
The latest available data show that states in the Northeast region have the lowest suicide rates. Besides Rhode Island, New Jersey has 5.2 cases per 100,000, New York with 6, Massachusetts with 6.1, and Connecticut with 6.8, according to the teenage suicide rate by state.
Meanwhile, the states with the highest rate of teen suicide per 100,000 people are Alaska (34 cases), South Dakota (29.2), Montana (26.7), Wyoming (25.6), and Idaho (22.2).
LGBT Youth Suicide Statistics
All teenagers have a hard time fitting in, but LGBT teens often suffer worse. Regardless of whether they experience a lack of support, discrimination, or violence, they need an affirming space where they will feel respected and loved.
13. 40% of LGBT youth have seriously considered resorting to suicide in the last year.
(The Trevor Project)
The teenage suicide percentage signifies a health crisis, disproportionately affecting the LGBTQ youth. The lack of recognition and understanding has forced many LGBT teens to consider committing suicide to resolve their problems.
14. 21% of LGBT teens aged 13 to 17 years have attempted suicide in the last year.
(The Trevor Project)
According to the transgender youth suicide statistics, 48% of LGBT survey responders aged 13 to 17 have considered suicide. 48% also admitted having practiced self-harm over the last 12 months.
15. 20% of LGBT youth without an affirming space attempted suicide.
(The Trevor Project)
Affirming gender identity among transgender and nonbinary youth is associated with a lower risk of suicide attempts. Those who reported having their pronouns respected by all or most people around them attempted suicide half the rate compared to those who didn’t have their pronouns respected, statistics about teen suicide show.
It’s good to note that 78% of LGBT youth reported having access to at least one affirmative space, and 86% report having high support levels from at least one person.
16. 26% of LGBT youth who had no access to gender-affirming clothing have attempted suicide.
(The Trevor Project)
Gender-affirming clothing such as binders, shapewear, or bodysuits, helps those who experience gender dysphoria align the looks of their bodies with their gender identities. Sadly, 14% of those who attempted suicide had access to most of these types of clothing.
High School Suicide Statistics
Pressure from the parents, too much homework, and chasing good grades take a toll on a teen’s mental health. High school also comes with bullying, and according to statistics, almost every teen has experienced some form of abuse. All of this can often result in attempted suicide.
17. 8.9% of high school students attempted suicide in 2019.
(America’s Health Rankings)
According to US teen suicide statistics, almost 9% of all high school students attempted suicide in 2019, with most cases being female.
18. 56% of students personally know someone who self-harms or has considered suicide.
(Security Magazine)
Teens keep reporting high levels of anxiety and depression. So much that more than half of them know someone who seriously thought about self-harm or suicide. However, only 32% believed their school could tackle this issue, and 42% ensured that their school is doing its best to create a safe environment.
Suicide Rate Due to Social Media
Cyberbullying is a common occurrence on social media that can trigger suicidal thoughts in many cases.
19. Teens who spend over three hours on social media daily are at high risk of mental issues.
(Jama Network)
Spending more time on social media is associated with increased odds of internalizing problems, meaning a higher risk of developing mental health problems.
20. TikTok has been partly responsible for at least 41 teen deaths so far.
(The Sun)
According to statistics on teen suicide, the social network TikTok is responsible for dozens of teen deaths globally and at least nine suicides so far.
Teens have developed a strong relationship with this platform, and unfortunate incidents go as far as committing suicides while live-streaming.
21. 60% of parents report their children being cyberbullied
(Comparitech)
According to youth suicide statistics, 60% of parents with children aged 14 to 18 years reported their kids bullied online and offline. In most cases, the bullying incidents occur at school, on the bus, and lastly, on social media.
22. 19.2% of bullying happens on social media.
(Comparitech)
Social media platforms are the most common place where cyberbullying occurs. Other digital means through which children often suffer bullying are text messages and online video games.
23. Suicide attempts are twice more likely with teens suffering cyberbullying.
(Science Daily)
According to teen suicide stats, cyberbullying strongly increases suicide and self-harm rates among the youth.
It is essential to work on cyberbullying prevention to preserve the mental health of children intact.
Facts About Teen Suicide During the 2020 Pandemic
Teens also suffered a lot through the pandemic. The latest data shows that self-harming behavior, overdosing, and suicide attempts significantly increased at the beginning of the pandemic.
24. Self-harming behavior among US teens increased by 90.7% during the pandemic.
(Forbes)
Teenage death statistics 2020 showed the pandemic had a severe impact on the youth’s mental health. In fact, data on self-harm among people aged 13 to 18 showed an increase of 90.7% during March 2020 worldwide.
The problem became even more prominent in April 2020, with a rise of 99.8% compared to the same time in 2019.
25. Overdosing among teens aged 13 to 18 years increased by 119%.
(Forbes)
Teen suicide statistics reveal insurance claims for overdosing increased by 94.9% in March and by 119.3% in April 2020 for 13-to-18-year-olds.
The substance use disorder also increased by 64.6% in March, and 62.7% in April 2020, confirming that the young have a hard time dealing with the pandemic.
26. Four out of five teens who attempted suicide showed warning signs.
(Jason Foundation)
Teenage suicide statistics show that the warning signs include: suicide threats, anger and irritability, appetite changes, preoccupation with death and suicide, previous suicide attempts, or final arrangements, like giving away possessions.
On their own, these behaviors don’t necessarily mean a teen will commit suicide, but they do indicate that a person is struggling with some issues. If left untreated and ignored, these symptoms might become more severe and lead to suicidal attempts.
Conclusion
Teen suicide statistics show that cyberbullying, lack of support and mental health issues are among the reasons for the high suicide rates. Teenage death statistics 2019 show that close to one in five teens considered suicide that year.
Unfortunately, with the arrival of the pandemic, these numbers have increased. According to statistics, in March and April 2020, the number of teens reported for self-harm, overdose, and a general anxiety disorder doubled.
As one in five suicidal teens shows clear signs, people must pay closer attention to the symptoms and offer support and understanding to help them with their issues.
People Also Ask
How many teens commit suicide a year?
Suicide is prevalent among youth. Suicide cases among 15-to-29-year-olds account for one-third of suicides worldwide. Teen suicide statistics show that the number of cases committed by people aged 15 to 24 places self-harm as the second leading cause of death for that age group.
How to help a teenager with suicidal thoughts?
The first step is recognizing the warning signs. Parents must create a safe environment where children can share how they feel and what is going on in their lives. The issues the teen expresses must be taken seriously, and parents should seek immediate professional help.
Schools should also work on preventing violence and bullying. The educational institutions have to develop a crisis and response plan. It should include procedures for assisting students suffering from self-harming tendencies or thoughts.
Teachers can learn to recognize behavioral patterns, actively intervene, and ensure that young people get the care they need.
What are the factors leading to an increase in suicidal tendencies in the youth?
Teens often experience immense pressure to succeed in school, suffer mental illnesses, face bullying, move to a new environment, or face losses, all of which may lead to suicidal thoughts.
Age, gender, and cultural and social influences also play a part in teen suicide tendencies. Unfortunately, they often perceive death as the only way out of a difficult period.
Why do many teenagers feel depressed?
Today’s unprecedentedly high rates of depression among teenagers are due to a plethora of reasons. Among the causes are financial situation worries, more exposure to alcohol and drugs, and social media.
Social media is linked to sleep deprivation, unrealistic expectations, and cyberbullying.
Is school linked to depression?
Schools are often linked to teen depression — the need to be successful and score perfect grades, fit in, socialize, and, of course, peer pressure and bullying are among the many factors contributing to teens’ fragile mental health, show teen suicide statistics.
