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Healthy Youth Survey & Suicide

Responses to the 2008 Washington Healthy Youth Survey showed that 17 percent of tenth graders (about 14,000 students) seriously thought about attempting suicide during the 12 months prior to the survey. Nine percent of tenth graders (about 7,500 students) reported making a suicide attempt in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Responses by sixth-graders on the 2008 Washington Healthy Youth Survey showed that 16 percent (about 12,250 students) had ever seriously considered killing themselves and that 5 percent (almost 4,000 students) had ever tried to kill themselves.

Facts

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the state of Washington for youth 10-24 years old and the third leading cause of death nationally.

• There were nearly twice as many suicides as homicides of youth ages 10–24.

• In Washington State and nationally, whites accounted for the highest total number of suicides, while Native Americans accounted for the highest rates of suicide.

• Suicide rates are lower for African-Americans and Hispanics.

• In Washington State and nationally, females attempted suicide more frequently, yet males died by suicide more often by a ratio of at least 4:1.

• In Washington State, firearms were the leading method of suicide for both males and females.

Economic Costs of Suicide

• Nationally, suicide and attempted suicide cost as much as $33 billion annually. This includes $32 billion in lost productivity and $1 billion in medical costs.

• Based on these national estimates adjusted to Washington State, the average cost for each completed suicide for youth between the ages of 10 and 24 is about $1.9 million in future work loss and $5,000 in medical costs. The estimated cost of a non-fatal suicide attempt that results in hospitalization is about $11,000 in work loss and $9,000 in medical costs.

• The estimated costs for suicide and attempts that result in hospitalization in Washington State in 2006 for youth 10-24 years old are as follows:

  • With 120 youth suicides, there was an estimated $231 million in medical costs and lost future productivity.

  • Children’s Safety Network, Economics and Data Analysis Resource Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, MD, 2008. All costs in 2006 dollars.

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