Report: Largest One Year Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that in 15 years suicide rates for adolescents between the age of 10 to 24 years old have increased by eight percent, the largest single rise in 15 years.

Following a decline in suicide rates in 1990 to 2003, the increase occurred in 2003-2004 according to the report. Dr. Illeana Arias, the Director of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control stated that "This is the biggest annual increase that we've seen in 15 years. We don′t yet know if this is a short-lived increase or if it′s the beginning of a trend, either way, it′s a harsh reminder that suicide and suicide attempts are affecting too many youth and young adults. We need to make sure suicide prevention efforts are continuous and reaching children and young adults."

The results of the report show that females between the ages of 10 to14 years old have increased fro 0.54 per 100,000 in 2003 to 0.95 per 100,000 in 2004. Females between the ages of 15-19 years-old has increased from 2.66 to 3.52 per 100,000, and males between the ages of 15 to19 years old has increased from 11.61 to 12.65 per 100,000.

The report also showed that changes had occurred in the way people attempted to commit suicide as well. According to the report, in 1990, firearms were the most common method of suicide for both girls and boys. In 2004, hanging and suffocation was the most common method for girls. 71.4 percent of suicides among girls 10-14 years-old and 49 percent in girls between the ages of 15 to19 were those who used hanging and suffocation as the method of suicide. Firearms is still the most common method of suicide for boys and young men.

"This study demands that we strengthen our efforts to help parents, schools and health care providers prevent things that increase the risk of suicide," said Dr. Arias. "We need to build on the efforts dedicated to education, screening and treatment and bridge the gap between the knowledge we currently have and the action we must take."