Suicide in Canada

Learn about the impact of suicide in Canada and populations most at risk.

On this page

• What is the impact of suicide in Canada?
• What populations are at higher risk for suicide?
• What are the rates for suicide in Canada?
• For more information

What is the impact of suicide in Canada?

Suicide impacts people of all ages and backgrounds in Canada.

Every day, an average of more than 10 Canadians die by suicide.

For every person lost to suicide, many more experience thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.

For every death by suicide, at least 7 to 10 survivors are significantly affected by the loss.

What populations are at higher risk for suicide?

In Canada, the following groups have higher rates or risk of suicide:

• men and boys
• people serving federal sentences
• survivors of suicide loss and survivors of a suicide attempt
• youth (15 to 24 year olds)
  • second leading cause of death for youth
• some First Nation and Métis communities, especially among youth
• all Inuit regions in Canada

Women have higher rates of self-harm. Self-harm can be a risk factor for suicide.

Thoughts of suicide and suicide-related behaviours are more frequent among LGBTQ youth in comparison to their non-LGBTQ peers. This refers to those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, Two-Spirit or queer/questioning youth.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or suicide-related behaviour, help is available.

What are the rates of suicide in Canada?

The Suicide in Canada infographic will show you in an easy to understand way how widespread suicide is in Canada. The more you know about suicide, the more you’ll understand why it’s an important public health issue.