Suicide is preventable. It is the tenth (10th) leading cause of death in the U.S.  Firearms, suffocation (predominantly hanging), and poisoning (predominantly drug overdose) are the three leading methods of suicide in the U.S. The rate of suicide has risen in the past decade, with the greatest increase occurring among people 35 to 64 years of age.

The Louisville Metro suicide rate of 14 (per 100,000 population) is higher than the national rate of 12.4  

Following the national trend, white men have the highest rate of suicide in Louisville. 

According to hospitalization data, the leading cause of inpatient visits by preteens and adolescents was for emotional disorders.  In 2011, 221 preteens and adolescents ages 11 to 20 years living in Louisville were hospitalized due to a major depressive disorder and 79 were hospitalized due to a suicide attempt or self-inflicted injury.

Healthy Louisville 2020, Louisville's shared community plan to improve health by the year 2020, has a goal to improve the health and wellbeing of Louisville residents and specific targets and recommendations to achieve that goal.  Louisville's Blueprint for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods also addresses suicide prevention.

Resources

Seven Counties Services Hope Now Crisis Line  1.800.221-0446 or 502.589.4313   

Kentucky Suicide Prevention Group  

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline   800.273.8255

Call 211 to connect to Metro United Way's directory of mental health resources for care and counseling as well as crisis intervention.