In addition to ending a life tragically, suicide profoundly affects the lives of surviving relatives and friends. While over 45,000 people die from suicide in the U.S. each year, it can often be prevented through education, mental health services and public awareness.

In 2019-21, Whites in Westchester County had the highest suicide rate, at 7.9 per 100,000, followed by Hispanics (4.9), and African Americans and Asians (both at 3.8). Since 2016-18, rates among all racial and ethnic groups have decreased except for Hispanics who saw a 48% increase.

Westchester County's rate among Hispanics was higher than the state rate of 4.6 deaths per 100,000, and the second highest compared to the counties of Rockland (5.3), Nassau (2.9) and Putnam (0).

Westchester's suicide rate for Whites was highest compared to similar counties above Nassau at 6.8, Rockland at 6.4, and Putnam, at 6; it had the second-highest rate for African Americans, behind Nassau (4), and was tied for the second highest rate for Asians, behind Rockland (5.6).

Racial and ethnic groups differ in their access to culturally appropriate behavioral health treatment, experiences of discrimination and historical trauma and other factors that may be related to suicide risk.

Rates are age-adjusted, meaning adjusted to account for differences in age distributions across geographies. Some data for Putnam County is not shown because the numbers are so low that the rate is considered unstable and not reported.