The highest suicide rates are seen among teenagers and young adults between the ages of 10 to 35 years old. Suicide is causing fatal self-injury to take one's own life to escape from pain or suffering.
Men 65 and older face the highest overall rate of suicide.
Suicide is an important problem among older adults. Suicide rates are particularly high among older men, with men ages 85 and older having the highest rate of any group in the country. Suicide attempts by older adults are much more likely to result in death than among younger persons.
The highest suicide rates have historically been among the oldest Americans. Many elderly have undiagnosed or untreated depression, which can be intensified by the trauma of losing a spouse or the stress of living with a chronic illness.