Citation

Goldstein L, Diaz-Arrastia R. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 2018; 320(6): 554-556.

Affiliation

Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jama.2018.10825

PMID

30120461

Abstract

Suicide accounts for 1.4% of deaths globally and ranks as the 17th leading cause of death overall and the second for teenagers and young adults.1 In the United States, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death overall, and the second leading cause of death among teenagers.2 In 2016, there were nearly 45 000 suicides in the United States, twice the number of homicides, and the US suicide rate has increased in recent years. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan, in every country, and across all socioeconomic strata. For each suicide, an estimated 20 to 25 suicide attempts occur.3 Nonfatal suicide behavior, or parasuicide, is frequently accompanied by serious medical and psychiatric comorbidity and long-term disability. Suicide creates enormous psychosocial and economic burdens on individuals, families, caretakers, and society. Yet stigma, shame, and misunderstanding keep suicide in the shadows ...

Language: en