Suicide
What is Suicide?
Suicide is the intentional act of taking one's own life. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any attempt to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions. In the United States, over 49,000 deaths were caused by suicide in 2023. Groups most affected by suicide include people living in rural areas, veterans, LGBTQ+ youth, youth in foster care, inmates, emergency first responders, and American Indian or Alaskan Natives.
Risk Factors
Characteristics that make suicide more likely
- Previous suicide attempt
- History of depression or other mental illness
- Substance use
- Sense of hopelessness
- Social isolation
- Family or loved one’s history of suicide
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Access to lethal means of suicide
- Loss of relationships
- Serious illness such as chronic pain
Protective Factors
Characteristics that make suicide less likely
- Effective coping and problem-solving skills
- Reasons for living (family, friends, pets, etc.)
- Support from a partner, family, and friends
- Feeling connected to others
- Availability of consistent, high-quality physical and behavioral healthcare
- Reduced access to lethal means among people at risk
- Cultural, religious, or moral objections to suicide
Data in Madison County
- Between 2017-2022, 54 people died by suicide
- Majority of suicides were 50-64 years old (28.3%)
- 73% were male
- About 13% were veterans
- 36% of total suicides were firearm by males
- 18% of total suicides were self-poisoning or hanging/suffocation for females (9% each)
- 5th highest suicide rate among the NYS counties (between 2019-2021)
To learn more about suicide in Madison County, please read the data brief here and watch the video here.
Resources
Crisis Services
- Madison County Mental Health: 315-366-2327
- Liberty Resources: 315-251-0800
- National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
- Veterans line: dial 988 & press 1
Counseling & Other Services
- Madison County Mental Health Department
- Family & Children's Counseling Services
- BRiDGES
- Grief Support After Death by Suicide group
- L.O.S.S. Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors)
- Trainings in Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
- Leads the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Madison County, see more information below:
