8.3 million U.S. adults contemplated suicide in 2008: Survey

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), based on the survey of 46,000 people aged 18 years and more in 2008, said that besides the 8.3 million who thought about committing suicide, 2.3 million made a plan to do so, and 1.1 million actually committed suicide.

Suicide thoughts vary with age and gender
The study reveals that suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts vary according to age. Such desperate ideas occurred frequently to people aged 18 to 25 years in the past year, as opposed to those aged 26 to 49 (6.7 percent versus 3.9 percent).

The survey also found that only 2.3 percent of people aged 50 or older seriously considered suicide. However, the researchers noted that females were more prone to suicidal behavior than males.

Reasons for suicidal thoughts
Though the research did not ponder too deeply on the reasons behind the spurt in suicide rate, it linked substance use disorders with an increased risk to consider, plan or attempt suicide.

The survey found that 11 percent of the people who had substance abuse disorders in the past year had seriously contemplated taking their lives compared to 3 percent of those without the disorder.

Recession leading to problems like unemployment, economic distress, home foreclosure and personal debts could also be a vital factor for so many Americans considering suicide.

The study found that around 62.3 percent of those who attempted suicide received medical intervention, whereas only 46 percent of those who made an effort to kill themselves stayed in a hospital overnight or longer for treatment of their suicide attempts.
Suicide prevention a public health priority
According to the Center of Disease Control, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among Americans with thousands killing themselves every year.

Eric Broderick, acting administrator of SAMHSA, stated, “This study offers a far greater understanding of just how pervasive the risk of suicide is in our nation and how many of us are potentially affected by it.”

"While there are places that people in crisis can turn to for help like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline [1-800-273-TALK], the magnitude of the public health crisis revealed by this study should motivate us as a nation to do everything possible to reach out and help the millions who are at risk -- preferably well before they are in immediate danger," Broderick said.