Health officials: Suicide attempts prevalent throughout one California county

According to a recent Riverside County Department of Public Health report, suicide attempts were the leading cause of reported nonfatal injuries in adolescents for the sixth consecutive year, reports the Press-Enterprise.

Health officials told the news source that suicide attempts among youths between ages 12 and 17 in California, were more common than car accidents between 2001 and 2006.

The report found that nearly 150,000 of people between ages 10 and 24 get treated for self-inflicted injuries each year. Furthermore, health officials said that 4,400 individuals in that age group die from suicide, annually.

Programs for troubled youth can help those who suffer from suicidal ideation and teach them how and where to seek professional guidance.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 11 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death. Furthermore, in 2007, nearly 11 out of 100,000 people took their own life.