How many people die by suicide?

The number of people who die by suicide each year in Canada equates to a jumbo jet 747 crashing and killing everyone on board… every single month of the year.

If as many people died in plane crashes as they do by suicide, there would be a public uproar. Instead, suicide is swept under the carpet and not talked about.

Here are some more sobering stats for Alberta in particular:

• More than 500 Albertans die by suicide each year
• More Albertans die by suicide than in traffic collisions
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth in Alberta

These are very sobering statistics. Fortunately, things are being done to prevent suicide in Alberta and across Canada by the Centre for Suicide Prevention and our parent organization the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).