Suicide in Canada: Key statistics (infographic)
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- Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada
Deaths and hospitalizations
- Approximately 12 people die by suicide each day
- Approximately 4,500 deaths by suicide per year
- Suicide rates are approximately 3 times higher among men compared to women
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults (15-34 years)
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Figure 1. Text description
Age | 10-19 | 20-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65-79 | 80+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Females | 4.9 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
Males | 7.4 | 21.4 | 23.4 | 25.9 | 18.0 | 22.9 |
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Figure 2. Text description
Age | 10-19 | 20-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65-79 | 80+ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Females | 187 | 102 | 60 | 44 | 24 | 20 |
Males | 43 | 61 | 46 | 39 | 23 | 30 |
Behaviours related to suicideFootnote 3, Footnote 4
Thoughts
- 12% had thoughts of suicide in their lifetime
- 2.6% had thoughts of suicide in the past year
Plans
- 4.2% had planned suicide in their lifetime
- 0.8% had planned suicide in the past year
Attempts
- 3.1% had attempted suicide in their lifetime
- 0.3% had attempted suicide in the past year
Published data may underestimate the total number of reported deaths, attempts, plans, and thoughts of suicide due to stigma and other factors.
Help is available
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.
Help is available 24/7 for suicide prevention and mental health. Here are some resources:
- Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (or text 45645 from 4pm to midnight ET)
- For Quebec residents: 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553)
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
- Hope for Wellness Helpline for Indigenous peoples: 1-855-242-3310
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
- Wellness Together Canada
- Preventing suicide: Warning signs and how to help
Follow us: @GovCanHealth
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
-
Statistics Canada. Canadian Vital Statistics - Death Database. 2017-2019. Released in January, 2022.
- Footnote 2
-
Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System metadata (NACRS) and Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS). Fiscal year 2020-2021.
- Footnote 3
-
Estimates are for the population in Canada aged 15 years and older.
- Footnote 4
-
Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey - Annual component. 2020.
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