During the 25-year period from 1958 to 1982, a total of 587,821 persons in the U.S. committed suicide. According to vital statistics based on death certificates for these years, 31 % of these persons were under age 35. The percentage of all suicides committed each year by persons in this age group has increased markedly, from 19 % in 1958 to 29 % in 1970, & to 41 % in 1982. Statistics indicate the distribution of suicides is shifting toward the younger ages.