New Hampshire has experienced a slight decline in suicide deaths, though the state’s suicide rate still remains higher than the national average.
In 2023, New Hampshire recorded 222 suicide deaths, down from 248 in 2022, according to data released this month in a report from the New Hampshire Suicide Prevention Council.
This averages roughly four to five deaths each week.
Susan Stearns, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire, said that even though data from recent years haven’t changed much, “one life lost to suicide is too many.”
Nationally, the suicide rate is about 15 deaths per 100,000 people. In New Hampshire, the rate is slightly higher at nearly 16 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Vermont and Maine are the only other New England states with suicide rates that also exceed the national average.
Despite expanded suicide prevention efforts, particularly in schools, suicide continues to disproportionately affect New Hampshire’s youth and young adults.
Between 2019 and 2023, 137 individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 died by suicide, accounting for 77% of the state’s total suicide deaths during that period.
Across the state, organizations are working to train school staff, support students, and help communities cope with and heal from the impact of suicide.
Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among New Hampshire residents aged 15 to 34. Firearms also remain the most commonly used method.
Cost of care
Suicide not only takes an emotional toll on families and communities but also carries a significant financial impact.
Individuals in New Hampshire who received treatment in a hospital or emergency department before dying by suicide generated more than $728,000 in medical expenses in 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In 2024, New Hampshire’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline received more than 12,000 calls from individuals in the state seeking support during mental health or suicide-related crises.
The report notes that the high call volume may reflect “decreased stigma” surrounding mental health and a growing willingness to seek help.
Many individuals who died by suicide in New Hampshire had no documented history of prior attempts or expressed suicidal intent. About 8,000 adults in total attempted suicide.
The northern regions of the state also show higher suicide rates. Coos County has the highest rate, with 25 suicide deaths per 100,000 residents between 2015 and 2023, according to the data.
“The suicide rate in New Hampshire is above the national average – in general, suicide rates in the United States tend to be higher in areas that are more rural,” Stearns said. “That often goes hand in hand with less access to mental health services and higher levels of firearm access.”
If you need help
- National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
- NH Rapid Response Access Point: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, call/text 1-833-710-6477 to speak to trained clinical staff.