Suicide Numbers

Percentage of U.S. high school students who have seriously thought about attempting suicide in the past 12 months: 24%

* Percentage who actually attempt to kill themselves:

U.S.: 9%

Calif.: 12%

L.A.: 16%

* Percentage in U.S. with whom the attempt requires medical attention: 3%

GENDER

* More than one in three high school girls in Los Angeles has thought seriously about attempting suicide in the last 12 months.

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Female Male U.S. 30% 18% L.A. 36% 16%

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Percentage of high schoolers attempting suicide

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Female Male U.S. 12% 6% L.A. 21% 10%

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Suicide death rate for 10- to 14-year-olds, per 100,000

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Female Male U.S. 1.0 2.4 L.A. 0.9 0.3

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Suicide death rate for 15- to 19-year-olds, per 100,000

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Female Male U.S. 3.5 18.3 L.A. 5 11

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RACE

* Among ethnic groups in California, African Americans are least likely to consider suicide.

Percentage considering suicide in last 12 months

White: 24%

Black: 17%

Latino: 27%

Asian: 26%

American Indian: 32%

* In California, Latinos are the ethnic groups most likely to attempt to kill themselves:

Percentage attempting to kill themselves in last 12 months

White: 8%

Black: 7%

Latino: 16%

Asian: 12%

American Indian: 12%

METHODS

* Nationwide, firearms and explosives are the most common methods used in suicide attempts in both the 10-14 and 15-19 age groups.

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10-14 15-19 Firearms and Explosives 58.8% 71% Hanging, Strangulation, Suffocation 32.4% 18% Solid or Liquid Substances 5.7% 4% Gases and Vapors 0.6% 3% Jumping From a High Place 1.3% 2% Cutting and Piercing Instruments 0% 1% Other 1.3% 2%

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SUICIDE FACTS

* Nationwide, boys are much more likely than girls to use guns or explosives in suicide attempts; girls are much more likely to use poisons.

* The greatest number of suicides occur in the spring.

* Many make a suicide attempt or kill themselves on an important day or day with special meaning.

* There are at least 100 attempts for every suicide among youths, researchers say, much higher than the estimated four attempts per suicide among adults.

Sources: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Report, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; California State Department of Education.