Health Indicator Report of Suicide

From 2021 to 2023, the age-adjusted suicide rate in Utah was 20.93 per 100,000 persons, with an average of 685 suicides per year. There were 696 suicide deaths in 2023. In 2023, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10 to 17, 18-24, and 25 to 44. It was the fifth leading cause of death for ages 45-64. Overall, suicide was the ninth leading cause of death for Utahns. Suicide deaths are only part of the problem. More people are hospitalized or treated in emergency rooms for suicide attempts than are fatally injured. In 2022, 14 Utahns were treated for self-inflicted injuries every day (3,816 treat-and-release emergency department visits plus 1,311 total hospitalizations). According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, in the 12 months preceding the survey, Utah high school students reported the following: 37% felt sad or hopeless, 22.9% seriously considered attempting suicide, 18.5% made a suicide plan, 9% attempted suicide one or more times, and 3.2% had a suicide attempt that required medical attention. The 2023 Prevention Needs Assessment data indicate that overall, 27% of Utah students in grades 8, 10, and 12 reported experiencing serious mental illness. Students were also asked social isolation questions and reported the following: 14.2% felt moderately socially isolated and 9.2% felt severely socially isolated. Additionally, 7.3% reported having attempted suicide in the past year and 18.9% reported having seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. All suicide attempts should be taken seriously. Suicide attempt survivors are often seriously injured, are likely to have depression and/or another mental health disorder, and are at an increased risk for suicide. Suicidal behavior is a serious and complex public health issue that takes an enormous toll on communities with both economical and human costs.