As the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., suicide poses a serious public health issue. High-quality data on suicidal behaviors—along with associated factors that either increase or decrease risk—is critical to understanding who is affected and where prevention resources can have the greatest impact. Without access to accurate data and robust surveillance systems, states lack the evidence necessary to inform policy, programming, and funding decisions to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective suicide prevention efforts.
Key ways states can use data to strengthen suicide prevention efforts: