Suicide, Classification of

Suicide is recognized as a serious public health problem with significant social, economic, and individual impact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide, or the act of inflicting harm with the intent of dying, is the second leading cause of death among individuals 15 to 24 years old and 25 to 34 years old. The consistent and accurate classification of suicide behaviors, accurate risk assessments, protocols, [Page 3430]and prevention interventions are critical for communication among researchers, clinicians, and patients. Accurate classification of suicide informs prevalence rates, which reveal at-risk groups to target in further study and prevention efforts. This entry describes the classification of various types of suicide behavior (e.g., suicide, suicide attempt, self-interrupted or aborted attempt, interrupted attempt, preparatory act or ...