Facts & Statistics
Whether you’ve been personally impacted by suicide or not, it’s a major health crisis in South Dakota. By raising awareness and educating our friends and neighbors, we believe we can help prevent suicides in our community.
Suicide in South Dakota
In 2022, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in our state. In 2021, we had the 7th highest suicide rate in the nation, with a rate of 22.6 per 100,000 residents. This was also our highest ever recorded, and it has been trending upward since 2018.
At-Risk Demographics
While suicide is one of the top causes of death in our state, it disproportionately affects different parts of our community. For example, suicide is:
The 1st cause of death for South Dakotans ages 10–19*
The 2nd cause of death for South Dakotas ages 20–39*
The 7th leading cause of death among Native Americans*
In addition, there are other demographics that make someone a higher risk for suicide. These can be anything from family and personal history to career choices. Some of these risk factors include:
Health inequities
Historical trauma
LGBTQ+
Mental illness or substance abuse disorder
Owning a firearm
Professions such as farmers, ranchers, physicians, or veterans
*statistics from the 2022 South Dakota Suicide Surveillance Report