SUICIDE: MASSACHUSETTS 2017 FACTS & FIGURES

Suicide Death Rates Suicide cost Massachusetts a total of

$728,322,000 of combined lifetime medical
Number of Deaths Rate per 100,000 State and work loss cost in 2010, or an average of
by Suicide Population Rank
$1,217,930 per suicide death.
Massachusetts 642 8.87 47
IN MASSACHUSETTS, SUICIDE IS THE...
Nationally 44,193 13.26

2nd leading 3rd leading 4th leading

cause of death cause of death cause of death
Suicide is the for ages 15-34 for ages 10-14 for ages 35-54

12th leading cause

of death overall
8th leading 20th leading
in Massachusetts. cause of death cause of death
for ages 55-64 for ages 65 & older

On average,
one person Five times as many die by suicide
dies by suicide in Massachusetts annually than by
every 14 hours homicide; the total deaths to suicide
in the state. reflect a total of 13,026 years of
potential life lost (YPLL) before age 65.
Based on most recent 2015 data from CDC. Learn more at afsp.org/statistics.
 SUICIDE: MASSACHUSETTS 2017 FACTS & FIGURES

SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

AND INITIATIVES
GET INVOLVED
Two AFSP Chapters serve communities across
The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) is a public/ Massachusetts. For more information or to volunteer,
please contact:
private partnership that assists in the formation of and provides technical
assistance to regional coalitions, hosts/sponsors conferences and events,
and that led the development of the updated (2015) Strategic Plan for AFSP – GREATER BOSTON
Suicide Prevention, available online at http://www.sprc.org/sites/default/ boston@afsp.org
files/MA%20Strategic%20Plan_May%202015.pdf. The MCSP works AFSP – WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
closely with and is primarily funded by the Department of Public Health. westernma@afsp.org
The two work together collaboratively.

The MA Department of Public Health, through its Suicide Prevention Program, BECOME AN ADVOCATE IN MASSACHUSETTS
hosts an annual statewide suicide prevention conference, conducts training AFSP’s Massachusetts advocacy volunteers build
and certifies training instructors, and funds 800 hotlines statewide through relationships with public officials and advocate on
Samaritan organizations. behalf of sound suicide prevention policy.
Massachusetts law (HB 4376, adopted 8/13/14) now requires at least 2 hours of To get involved, contact:
suicide prevention training every 3 years for all licensed school personnel. The Nicole Gibson
new law also requires the collection, recording, and analyzing of data on all Director of State Policy & Grassroots Advocacy
suicides in the Commonwealth; the development and provision of voluntary ngibson@afsp.org
training/professional development for physicians on suicide prevention through
reduction of access to lethal means; the inclusion of hotline numbers on all
firearm identification cards and carrying licenses; and that suicide prevention
informational notices be posted and distributed where firearms are sold.

LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST SUICIDE

We fund research, offer educational programs, advocate for public policy
and support those affected by suicide. Headquartered in New York, AFSP
has local chapters in all 50 states.