ATLANTA, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Someone in the United States dies by suicide every 15 minutes and people in Utah think the most about taking their lives, federal health officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2008 to 2009 for a report that said serious thoughts of suicide range from about 1 in 50 adults in Georgia, 2.1 percent, to 1 in 15 in Utah, or 6.8 percent.
Dr. Thomas M. Frieden, director of the CDC, said more than 2.2 million adults, or 1 percent, reported making suicide plans in the past year, ranging from 0.1 percent in Georgia to 2.8 percent in Rhode Island.
"This report highlights that we have opportunities to intervene before someone dies by suicide. We can identify risks and take action before a suicide attempt takes place," Frieden said in a statement.
"Most people are uncomfortable talking about suicide, but this is not a problem to shroud in secrecy."
The report also found more than 1 million U.S. adults reported attempting suicide in the past year, ranging from 0.1 percent in Delaware and Georgia to 1.5 percent in Rhode Island.
The prevalence of serious suicidal thoughts, suicide planning, and suicide attempts was significantly higher among young adults ages 18-29, among women and among those living in the West, especially the Rocky Mountain states.
