THE SENTINEL: Suicide and America's Youth

Suicide awareness and prevention among America's youth is critical. Each person's life has inestimable value and suicide devastates not only the surviving family and close friends but the entire community.

The Jed Foundation was born following one such tragedy. Jed Satow, a college sophomore, died by suicide without anyone understanding that his life was in danger. Honoring the memory of Jed Satow, the Jed Foundation is committed to reducing the young adult suicide rate by

enhancing understanding of the underlying causes of suicide,
increasing awareness of the issue of college student mental health and suicide, and

creating effective prevention programs on college campuses.

Important Suicide Facts from the Jed Foundation

There are 3 suicides for every 2 homicides nationwide
Suicide is the 8th ranking cause of death in the United States
There is one suicide every 17 minutes
There are 4 male suicides for every female suicide. However, at least twice as many females as males attempts suicide

Youth and Suicide

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students
Suicide attempts pose the greatest life-threatening danger for college women
The rate of suicide among young males has tripled since 1970
Almost 1,100 suicides are projected to occur on campuses this year
Among college students, 7.5 of every 100,000 take their own lives
4 out of 5 young adults who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs
18-24 year-olds think about suicide more often then any other age group, and one in twelve U.S. students makes a suicide plan
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among the young overall (ages 15-24)
Every hour and forty-five minutes another young person commits suicide
The National College Health Risk Behavior Study found that 11.45 of students seriously considers suicide
Up to 60% of high school students report thinking about suicide at least once in their lives
In 1998, suicide killed more young adults then AIDS, cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, birth defects, stoke, influenza and chronic lung disease combined