May 2025

Suicide awareness can save a life. Suicide rates have increased by almost 35% — from 10.4 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 14.0 per 100,000 people in 2021. The ability to spot warning signs is of growing importance to help prevent suicide.

Yet, despite our best intentions, it’s easy to miss or dismiss when a family, friend, or colleague is in a level of despair that could lead them to self-harm or suicide. Here’s what you need to know to identify risk factors and effectively spot warning signs in those around you.

Who is at risk?

You might not realize that someone you know falls into a high-risk category. While suicide affects every demographic, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) finds that some groups are at higher risk.

Gender

Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women. The difference in suicide rates between men and women is most pronounced for those 75 and older. In this age group, men are 10 times more likely to die by suicide than women.

Age

Overall, suicide rates for adults (and kids 15+) don’t vary much by age — until the age of 75. For men 75 and older, suicide rates increase dramatically — to more than 42 suicide deaths per 100,000. That’s almost 10 times higher than the suicide rate for women 75+. (Suicide rates for women peak between the ages of 45 and 64 — at just over eight deaths per 100,000 — still far lower than the rates for any males 15+.)

Among those ages 18 to 25, slightly more than 2% attempted suicide in 2022, far higher than that for any other age group. But since the attempts by this age group are far less likely to be fatal, the actual suicide rate for this age is not higher than for other age groups.

Race

Native American/Alaskan Native populations face the highest risk of suicide of any racial group in the U.S. The annual age-adjusted suicide rate for Native Americans was 13.5 out of 100,000 for women — and 43.4 out of 100,000 for men.

Also at much higher risk than average are non-Hispanic whites. In 2021, 7.5 out of 100,000 white women died by suicide, as did 30 out of 100,000 white men. Overall, white men and women were about twice as likely to die by suicide compared to non-Native men and women of other races.

Veteran status

According to a 2023 study published by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, veterans are much more likely to die by suicide than nonveterans. For 2021, the age-adjusted suicide rate of male veterans was 43% higher than that of non-veteran men. The impact of being a veteran was far greater for women: female veterans were 166% (or more than 2.5 times ) more likely to die by suicide than non-veteran women.

What are the warning signs?
While some cases of suicide come as a complete shock to family and friends, oftentimes, there are warning signs. Here’s what to look for in others and even in yourself, according to NIMH and MentalHealth.gov.

Talking about or experiencing despair
When someone talks about wanting to die or ending their own life, it’s a clear signal they need help. But not everyone who attempts or dies by suicide discusses it so directly. Other verbal and emotional warning signs include:

• Talking about or feeling shame or guilt
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having unbearable sadness or pain
• Talking about feeling lonely or trapped or not fitting in
• Talking about getting revenge
• Worrying about being a burden to others

Changing behavior
Abrupt or extreme changes in someone’s usual behavior may signal a risk for suicide, such as:

• Abusing alcohol or drugs
• Exhibiting extreme mood swings
• Acting recklessly, such as driving too fast or having unprotected sex
• Withdrawing from friends and favorite social activities
• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Experiencing rage or violent tendencies
• Being agitated or anxious

Planning ahead
Someone with suicidal thoughts may make preparations, including:

• Giving away important or prized possessions
• Writing or changing a will
• Saying goodbye to family and friends
• Researching ways to die

What can you do to help?
If you’re not sure what’s going on, ask. Asking someone if they’re considering self-harm doesn’t increase their chances of committing suicide, according to NIMH. It shows them you care and provides an opportunity to encourage them to seek professional help.

If you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm, it’s important to get help immediately. You can text the Crisis Text Line at 741741. You can also call or text 988 Lifeline 988 or chat with them online. They also offer special services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

For the Veterans Crisis Line, call 1-800-272-8255 and press 1 or text 838255. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has additional resources for LGBTQ suicide prevention, such as the Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386.