DHSC Statsheet  
Delaware Health Statistics Center 
October 26, 2007

Youth and Young Adult Suicide Rates

In 1996-2005 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youths and young adults in Delaware; 
for Delawareans of all ages, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death. 
  
Risk Factors1 for Suicide in Youth and Young Adults 
-History of previous suicide attempts   
-Family history of suicide   
-History of depression or other mental illness   
-Alcohol or drug abuse   
-Stressful life event or loss   
-Easy access to lethal methods  
-Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others   
-Incarceration  

For young people (10-24 years of age) the suicide rate decreased 33 percent, from 9.4 in 1980-1989 to 
6.3 deaths per 100,000 in 1996-2005.  In 1996-2005, suicides accounted for 103 deaths of youths and young adults ages 10-24. 
 

Suicide rates for both young adults (aged 20-24 years) and youths (aged 10-19 years) decreased 
from 1980-1989 to 1996-2005.  Although the young adult suicide rate declined 35.6 percent to 10.5 in 1996-2005, 
it remained more than double that of the youth suicide rate of 4.3 deaths per 100,000. 

Male suicide rates for both age groups declined from 1980-1989 to 1996-2005, with the rates for the 20-24 age group 
dropping 31 percent to 19.8 and the rates for the 10-19 age group dropping 33 percent to 7.1 deaths per 100,000. 
 

Males accounted for the majority (89 percent) of suicide deaths in the 10-24 age group; the remaining deaths that were 
female were too small to allow calculation of reliable rates and no female rates are presented. 
 
 
In 1996-2005, use of firearms was the most common method of suicide for both the 10-19 and 20-24 age groups; 
44.7 percent of youths and 51.8 percent of young adults used firearms to commit suicide. Hanging and suffocation 
was the second most common method of suicide, accounting for more than 35 percent of all suicide deaths for both age groups. 


References: 
 
1. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention. Youth Suicide. 
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/Suicide/youthsuicide.htm. Accessed 10/16/2007 

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide Trends Among Youths and Young Adults Aged 10-24 Year - United States, 1990--2004.  
MMWR 2007;56(35);905-908. 
 
3. Greg Bluestein. CDC:  Suicide Rate Among U.S. Girls Soars. http://www.news.yahoo.com.  Accessed 09/07/2007 

Printed copies of tables, graphs, and charts can by obtained by contacting: 

Delaware Health Statistics Center
Delaware Division of Public Health
417 Federal Street
Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 744-4541
Doc. #35-05-20/07/11/04