In 2023, Florida experienced
Suicide affects all ages. It is the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, the 4th leading cause among people ages 34-54, and the 5th leading cause among people ages 45-54.
Learn more about Florida Injury Surveillance Data System.
988 Florida LifeLine
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use disorder, mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress, help is available. Call, text, or chat 988.
To help find ways to prevent these tragic deaths, we need to understand the circumstances. The Violent Death Reporting System links information about the data on violent deaths and provides insights about why they occurred. VDRS covers all types of violent deaths – including homicides and suicides – in all settings for all age groups.
Veteran Suicide Prevention
Florida has 21 military bases and 1.4 million Veterans. We are working to improve mental health and prevent suicide among our service members, veterans, and their families.
Youth Suicide Prevention
Suicide is preventable for all ages, and groups. Growing up, transitioning through childhood to adulthood, youths can experience mental health challenges that can have adverse consequences.
Suicide Risk and Protective Factors
Suicide is associated with several risk and protective factors. Like other human behaviors, suicide has no single determining cause, instead occurring in response to multiple biological, psychological, interpersonal, environmental, and societal influences that coincide, often over time. Learn how to reduce the factors that increase risks for suicide and increase protective factors that promote resilience.
Known Risk Factors
- Individual Risk Factors: History of depression, mental illness, substance abuse, health conditions, and previous suicide attempts.
- Relationship Risk Factors: High conflict or violent relationships, isolation, lack of social support, family history of suicide, financial and/or work stress.
- Community Risk Factors: Inadequate community resources and barriers to health care.
- Societal Risk Factors: Availability of lethal means of suicide, stigma associated with help-seeking, and mental illness.
Known Protective Factors
- Coping and problem-solving skills
- Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide
- Connections to friends, family, and community support
- Supportive relationships with care providers
- Availability of physical and mental health care
- Limited access to lethal means
Florida’s Office of Suicide Prevention
As the 12th leading cause of death for all Floridians, prevention and intervention efforts are focused on decreasing risks associated with suicide and increasing coping mechanisms for individuals and their community.
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Seeks to prevent suicide risk in the first place; identify and support people with increased risk through treatment and crisis intervention; prevent reattempts; promote long-term recovery; and support survivors of suicide loss.
Resources for Assistance
These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Florida Department of Health of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The Florida Department of Health bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
General Resources
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Florida Department of Education: Safe Schools-Suicide Prevention
- Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition
- National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
- National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center—Best Practices Registry
Suicide Prevention Crisis Lines
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-TALK (8255) - Veterans Crisis Line
800-272-8255 Press 1 or TEXT: 838255
Suicide prevention interventions such as safety planning, evidence-based treatments, and therapies delivered by trained providers.
Prevention Toolkits and Resource Guides
Preventing Suicide: Toolkit for High Schools
Toolkit that assists high schools and school districts in designing and implementing strategies to prevent suicide and promote behavioral health. The toolkit includes tools to implement a multifaceted suicide prevention program that responds to the needs and cultures of students. Includes a high school kit promotional flyer.
Promoting Emotional Health and Preventing Suicide: Toolkit for Senior Living Communities
This toolkit equips senior living staff with resources to promote mental health, suicide prevention, and encourages active participation among residents. It includes guidelines for integrating suicide prevention into ongoing programs, hands-on tools, and training manuals.
Roles in Suicide Prevention: Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Schools workplaces, hospitals, nursing homes and any place where people live, work, and are cared for, can play an important role in suicide prevention. Learn more about how suicide prevention efforts can be applied in a variety of settings.
Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide
Designed to provide accurate, user-friendly information, this guide is a tool that provides schools with a framework to assess existing or proposed suicide prevention efforts.
NAMI Suicide Prevention Month Partner Guide
National Alliance for Mental Illness’ guide to help partners and supporters coordinate public awareness efforts with NAMI’s for greater impact. Includes resources/calls to action, partner content and media resources, sample graphics, social media and branding guidelines.
Suicide Prevention: Resource For Action
This multi-disciplinary coalition, referred to as the Florida Suicide Prevention Integrated Network, implements strategies to communicate unique needs and best practices for these disproportionately affected populations.
Messaging Guidelines and Templates
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Messaging
Framework developed by the National Action Alliance to support safety, help-seeking, and healing for news, entertainment media and other organizations that regularly disseminate messages related to suicide.
Examples for using the National Action Alliance’s Framework for Successful Messaging
Offers various examples on how to apply suicide-safe messaging in a variety of strategies such as via social media, blogs, fundraising and more.