Suicide in Canada: Key Statistics

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According to the latest statistics, eleven Canadians die from suicide every day, 4000 every year. So where do I fit in?

Well, first of all, I belong to a high risk age group (45-59 years old). A third of all suicides belong in this cohort. Second, as a man, I am 3 times more likely than a woman to take my own life.

My infographic profile though is even more specific. I belong to the 2.5% of Canadians who have had thoughts of suicide over the past year and to the 4% of those who have actually made plans at some point in their life. In addition, I belong with the 3.1% who have made a suicide attempt.

While many of the stats appear to be low percentages, don't lose sight of the fact that the actual numbers of completed suicides in Canada is quite high. Overall, it is the 9th leading cause of death in Canada, 4th among males who are between 50 and 54 years old.

I check off a lot of the high risk boxes and if I let the dark thoughts take hold, all I see is the stats stacked against me; that suicide is inevitable. 

The numbers though don't show the complete picture. There are lots of other people out there fighting as hard as I am. There is more than just the disease. There is help, medication, therapy and the sheer will to succeed.  

The number of survivors with mental health challenges far outweighs those who have completed suicide. I belong to the 64% of people who have a serious mental illness who are currently receiving treatment.(US data). I have a therapist and a psychiatrist.

Mental health therapy reduces the risk of suicide. According to a Danish report, talk therapy alone reduced the number of repeat suicide attempts and completions by 25%. Moreover, 80% of those who have sought therapy indicated they were better off than those who hadn't (US data).  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in particular has helped 75% of participants including myself.(US data).

Statistics can be deceiving. While they should not be ignored, they should also not be considered a line of destiny. I may be a cohort, an age group, a gender at risk but none of these stats define me specifically. And so I tell myself that nothing is inevitable, that I am strong and can push through, that I can make it and not be another suicide stat, even if it is just for today.