Suicide Prevention

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or reach out through chat by visiting 988lifeline.org/chat. Veterans can call 988 and press 1.

Suicide is the act of taking one's own life by intentional self-harm or self-inflicted injury. Non-fatal self-inflicted injuries are more common, and not all self-inflicted injuries are suicide attempts.

In 2022, among Florida residents, there were 3,445 suicides and another 7,477 hospitalizations for non-fatal self-inflicted injuries.

Suicide affects all ages. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, the fourth leading cause among people ages 34-54, and the fifth leading cause among people ages 45-54.

Some groups have higher suicide rates than others. Suicide rates vary by race/ethnicity, age, and other factors. The highest rates are among American Indian/Alaska Native and non-Hispanic White populations. Other Americans with higher-than-average rates of suicide are veterans, people who live in rural areas, and workers in certain industries and occupations, like mining and construction.

• For additional suicide and self-harm data, visit Florida Injury Surveillance Data System.

To help find ways to prevent these tragic deaths, we need to understand the circumstances. The Violent Death Reporting System (VDRS) links information about the data on violent deaths and provides insights about why they occurred. VDRS covers all types of violent deaths – including homicides and suicides – in all settings for all age groups.

Florida’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program

Florida Department of Health addresses suicide prevention though a comprehensive, public health approach. Florida’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program, Florida utilizes a community engagement process.

Focusing on counties most densely populated with youth and veterans, the program leverages existing infrastructure to make connections in community-based organizations, health care systems and allies in supporting protective or upstream approaches.

The program collaborates with multiple partners throughout the state, including county health departments, Florida Department of Veteran Affairs, Florida Department of Children and Families, and others.

This multi-disciplinary coalition, referred to as the Florida Suicide Prevention Integrated Network, implements strategies to communicate unique needs and best practices for these disproportionately affected populations. These efforts are informed by best practices as found in the Suicide Prevention: Resource For Action.

To learn more about program, contact FL_CSP@FLhealth.gov.

Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention

The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention is located within the Florida Department of Children and Families the agency responsible for supporting the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.

The Surgeon General or designee represents the Florida Department of Health on the council. The Florida Department of Health’s Violence and Injury Prevention Section provides support for suicide prevention activities through the State Health Improvement Plan, Agency Strategic Plan, and by working closely with the Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention.

The statewide office and the council work together to implement the Suicide Prevention Interagency Plan. The Florida Department of Health participates on workgroups under the plan to coordinate components such as planning and evaluation, data analysis, targeting special populations, and communications.

Resources 

• Suicide Prevention Interagency Plan
• Florida Department of Children and Families

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

The 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is a new ten-year, comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, providing concrete recommendations for addressing gaps in suicide prevention infrastructure. Updated from 2012, notable changes include:

• Advancements in the suicide prevention field, and addressing emerging issues.
• Guidance on motivating and promoting coordinated and comprehensive approaches.
• Focusing on addressing risk and protective factors associated with suicide, recognizing there is no single solution.

Suicide Risk and Protective Factors

Suicide is associated with several risk and protective factors. Like other human behaviors, suicide has no single determining cause, instead occurring in response to multiple biological, psychological, interpersonal, environmental, and societal influences that coincide, often over time.

A combination of situations could lead someone to consider suicide. Risk factors increase the possibility of suicide but may not be direct causes.

Known Risk Factors

• Individual Risk Factors: History of depression and/or other mental illnesses, hopelessness, substance abuse, certain health conditions, previous suicide attempts, violence victimization and perpetration, and genetic/biological determinants.
• Relationship Risk Factors: High conflict or violent relationships, sense of isolation, lack of social support, family/loved one’s history of suicide, financial and/or work stress.
• Community Risk Factors: Inadequate community connectedness, barriers to health care (e.g., lack of access to providers and medications).
• Societal Risk Factors: availability of lethal means of suicide, unsafe media portrayals of suicide, stigma associated with help-seeking, and mental illness.

There are individual characteristics and steps communities can take that may help protect people from suicidal thoughts and behavior. More research is needed identifying and understanding protective factors that help lessen risk factors.

Known Protective Factors:

• Coping and problem-solving skills
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide
• Connections to friends, family, and community support
• Supportive relationships with care providers
• Availability of physical and mental health care
• Limited access to lethal means

Learn more about how to reduce the factors that increase risks for suicide and how to increase protective factors that promote resilience.