Data Sources
Quick Facts
Suicide: Facts at a Glance
[PDF 298 KB]
This fact sheet provides up-to-date data and statistics on suicide.
CDC Data Sources
Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data
Medical information about discharges includes up to seven diagnoses and up to four surgical and nonsurgical operations and procedures. Medical data are coded to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Basic demographic information is also included for patients discharged. Medical cost information is not collected in this survey.
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP)
NEISS-AIP provides nationally representative data about all types and causes of nonfatal injuries treated in United States hospital emergency departments. CDC uses NEISS-AIP data to generate national estimates of nonfatal injuries, including those related to suicide.
National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey collects data on the utilization and provision of ambulatory care services in hospital emergency and outpatient departments.
National Violent Death Reporting System
CDC has funded 17 states and established the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to gather, share, and link state-level data on violent deaths. NVDRS provides CDC and states with a more accurate understanding of violent deaths. This enables policy makers and community leaders to make informed decisions about violence prevention programs, including those that address suicide.
The National Vital Statistics System
The National Vital Statistics System is the oldest and most successful example of inter-governmental data sharing. This system includes nationwide data on deaths due to all causes, including suicide.
WISQARS
WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System, pronounced "whiskers") is an interactive database that provides national injury-related morbidity and mortality data used for research and for making informed public health decisions.
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
CDC's YRBSS monitors health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among young people in the United States, including suicide.
Other Federal Data Sources
Drug Abuse Warning Network
The Drug Abuse Warning Network is a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related hospital emergency department visits and drug-related deaths for the purpose of tracking the impact of drug use, misuse, and abuse in the United States.
Non-Federal Data Sources
Pan American Health Association, Regional Core Health Data Initiative*
In 1995, the Regional Core Health Data and Country Profile Initiative was launched by the Pan American Health Organization to monitor the attainment of health goals of the Member States. The initiative includes a database with 117 health-related indicators, country health profiles, and reference documents.
The American Association of Suicidology*
The goal of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is to understand and prevent suicide. The Research Division of AAS is dedicated to advancing knowledge about suicidal behavior through science. A description of research projects is available on the AAS Web site.
WHO Statistical Information System (WHOSIS)*
WHOSIS, the WHO Statistical Information System, is an interactive database bringing together core health statistics for the 193 WHO Member States. It comprises more than 70 indicators, which can be accessed by way of a quick search, by major categories, or through user-defined tables. The data can be further filtered, tabulated, charted and downloaded. The data are also published annually in the World Health Statistics Report released in May.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
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TTY: (888) 232-6348
24 Hours/Every Day - cdcinfo@cdc.gov