Younger adults, women more likely to consider or attempt suicide.

Nearly 8.3 million U.S. adults ages 18 and older thought seriously about committing suicide in the past year, according to the first national scientific survey of its size about this problem.

The study, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that 2.3 million adult Americans made a suicide plan in the past year and that 1.1 million adults--4).5 percent of all adult Americans--actually attempted suicide.

Young adults ages 18 to 25 were far more likely to have seriously considered suicide in the past year than those ages 26 to 49 (6.7 percent versus 3.9 per cent) and nearly three times more likely than those 50 or older (2.3 percent). These disparities in risk levels among younger and older adults also were found in suicide planning and suicide attempts.

Substance use disorders were associated with an increase in the risk of seriously considering, planning or attempting suicide. People experiencing substance abuse disorders within the past year were more than three times as likely to have seriously considered committing suicide as those who had not experienced a substance abuse disorder (11.0 percent versus 3.0 percent).

The study also revealed that adult females had marginally higher levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than males in the past year.

Only about two-thirds of adults who attempted suicide in the past year received medical attention for their suicide attempts. Nearly half of those attempting suicide stayed in a hospital overnight or longer for treatment of their suicide attempts.

The survey was based on 2008 data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which obtained responses from 46,190 persons aged 18 or older. The full report is available online at http://oas.samhsa.gov/ 2kg/165/suicide.cfm.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in the Past Year

(Among Adults, by age Group, 2008)

                18 to 25   26 to 49   50 or older

Had Serious       6.7        3.9          2.3
Thoughts
of Suicide

Made any          1.9        1.1          0.7
Suicide Plans

Attempted         1.2        0.4          0.3
Suicide

Source: 2008 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use
and Health (NSDUH)

Note: Table made from bar graph.