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Each year, suicide claims more lives than war, murder, and natural disasters combined. Yet suicide prevention doesn’t receive anywhere near the funding as other leading causes of death. It’s up to Walkers like us to make a difference. Together we can change the conversation about mental health and put a stop to this tragic loss of life.

Here’s some information to help you get the conversation started:

General

• In 2014 (latest available data), there were 42,773 reported suicide deaths.

• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 15 and 64 years in the United States.

• Currently, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

• A person dies by suicide about every 12.3 minutes in the United States.

• Every day, approximately 117 Americans take their own life.

• Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.

• There are 3.5 male suicides for every female suicide, but three times as many females as males attempt suicide.

• 494,169 people visited a hospital for injuries due to self-harm behavior, suggesting that approximately 12 people harm themselves (not necessarily intending to take their lives) for every reported death by suicide.

Depression

• 25 million Americans suffer from depression each year.

• Over 50 percent of all people who die by suicide suffer from major depression. If one includes alcoholics who are depressed, this figure rises to over 75 percent.

• Depression affects nearly 5-8 percent of Americans ages 18 and over in a given year.

• More Americans suffer from depression than coronary heart disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

• Depression is among the most treatable of psychiatric illnesses. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people with depression respond positively to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms. But first, depression has to be recognized.

The best way to prevent suicide is through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and other mental health conditions.

*All information obtained is from AFSP.