This is the first in a series of three articles to provide information about the ways in which suicidal ideation, attempts, plans and death vary among demographic groups. The first article will address gender differences among young people, the second age differences, and the third rural-urban differences.

Gender differences

Twelve percent of females and eight percent of males reported having a plan to die by suicide, according to the 2002 Iowa Youth Survey completed by nearly 96,000 students in grades 6, 8, and 11 in all Iowa counties. This means that of about 120,000 students in these three grades, 7,200 females and 4,800 males had a plan. On average, eight percent of females and five percent of males reported at least one attempt. Two percent of females and one percent of males reported two attempts, and three percent of females and two percent of males reported at least three or more attempts. These percentages increased in the upper grade levels. In the 11th grade, eight percent of all students reported having made at least one attempt, while three percent reported two attempts and four percent reported three or more attempts. The survey did not link reported suicide attempts to actual hospitalizations.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, from 1999 to 2002, sixty-six percent (1,753) of youth ages 10-24 admitted to hospitals for self-inflicted injuries were female. In Contrast, eighty-eight percent (197 of 225) of youths age 10-24 who died by suicide were male. Sixty-three percent (124) of the males and 39 percent (11) of the females died from gunshot wounds.

Thus although females reported having a plan to die by suicide fifty-percent more often than males, nearly nine out of ten of those who actually die by suicide are male.

This stark difference has to do with the lethal means used. Poisons – the most frequent means used by females- make them sick but don’t frequently kill, while bullets – more frequently used by males- are usually lethal.

The following chart shows the comparison of hospitalizations for self-inflicted injuries, deaths, and deaths by gun for females and males.