Troubling Statistics

These are some of the statistics in the USA concering our teens. What can WE do as Christians to reach out to these young people and young adults? It might just be you who is able to awnser their cry for help. Don't ignore the cry!

Suicide Rates in the USA for Teens:

1.3% of all deaths are from suicide.

On average, one suicide occurs every 16 minutes.

Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death for all Americans.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 year olds.
(1st = accidents, 2nd = homicide)

Suicide is the second leading way of death for 25-34 year olds.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.

More males die from suicide than females.
4 male deaths by suicide for each female death by suicide.)

More people die from suicide than from homicide.

(Suicide ranks as the 11th leading cause of death; Homicide ranks 13th.)

There were over 800,000 suicide attempts in 2005

These statistics are from 2005 and recent studies have shown there has been a 15% increase since.

Teenage Pregnancy Rates in the USA:

Three-quarters of a million teens between 15 and 19 become pregnant each year.

Teens who become pregnant are less likely to attend college.

Nearly a third of pregnant teenagers choose abortion.

Out of all teen pregnancies, 57% end in birth.

Very few teens who become mothers plan on doing so.

Two-thirds of teen pregnancies occur among teens 18-19 years old.

These stats were between 2005-2006 there has been a 3% increase since.

Underage drinking in the USA:

Three teens are killed each day when they drink alcohol and drive.1 At least six more die every day from other alcohol-related causes.

Americans who began drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence.

It is estimated that teenage girls who binge drink are up to 63% more likely to become teen mothers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 4,554 underage deaths each year are due to excessive alcohol use.

Alcohol use plays a substantial role in all three leading causes of death among youth - unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle fatalities and drownings), suicides and homicides.

There is growing evidence to suggest that alcohol use prior to age 21 impairs crucial aspects of youthful brain development. In one recent study, heavy-drinking adolescents who had been sober for three weeks still scored 10 percent lower than non-drinking peers on tests requiring verbal and nonverbal recall and skills needed for map reading, geometry, and science.