3 Per Day: Tennessee Suicide Rate At Record High

NASHVILLE, TN -- Roughly three Tennesseans per day died from suicide in 2016, according to Department of Health, and the state reached its highest suicide rate in more than 35 years of record keeping.

There were 1,110 recorded suicide deaths in Tennessee in 2016, up from 1,065 in 2015. The suicide rate increased to 16.2 per 100,000 people from 15.6. Both are 4 percent increases, which, while modest, are still the highest numbers recorded since the health department began tracking deaths by suicide.

While the suicide rate in most demographic groups rose proportionally to the overall figure -- white people account for 91 percent of suicides and males for 77 percent, with people over the age of 45 accounting for the most deaths by suicide -- deaths by suicide are increasing among people under the age of 24, particularly those between 10 and 19.

Firearms are the most common means of death by suicide in Tennessee.

The state's suicide rate outpaces the national figure of 13.9 per 100,000, but even despite the increase, Tennessee had only the 22nd highest suicide rate in the country.

Those who are looking for help in Tennessee can call the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at 1-855-CRISIS-1 or 1-855-274-7471. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network can be reached at 615-297-1077. The Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting "TN" to 741741 to chat with someone 24/7.

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