Suicide Prevention Month: Awareness Matters

National Suicide Prevention Month, observed in September, highlights an ongoing public health crisis, even as recent data shows modest signs of progress amid persistently high numbers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide claimed 48,183 lives in the United States in 2021. Deaths rose to approximately 49,000 in 2022, reached 49,316 in 2023, and declined slightly to 48,824 in 2024.

These figures remain far higher than two decades earlier and underscore the need for continued action. Certain groups continue to face elevated risk, including veterans, LGBTQ+ youth, people living in rural areas, tribal populations, and individuals experiencing economic hardship or barriers to care, alongside documented disparities by race and ethnicity (with the highest 2024 rates among non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people and non-Hispanic White people), sex (rates among males nearly four times those among females), and age (highest among adults ages 80 and older).

Raising awareness and deepening understanding of mental health remain essential during Suicide Prevention Month. Communities can help prevent suicide by fostering open, non-judgmental conversations about mental well-being, supporting those who are struggling, and working to reduce the stigma around seeking help. Expanding access to mental health resources, strengthening care systems, and staying alert to warning signs enable collective progress toward fewer lives lost and a society in which more people feel valued, understood, and able to reach out for support when facing suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone you care about is in distress, confidential help is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.