In addition to ending a life tragically, suicide profoundly affects the lives of surviving relatives and friends. While nearly 50,000 people die from suicide in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC, it can often be prevented through education, mental health services and public awareness.

In 2021-23, Westchester County had a suicide rate of 7 per 100,000 people similar to 2016-18 when it was 6.8. Whites in Westchester County had the highest suicide rate, at 7.9 per 100,000, followed by African Americans (6.0), Hispanics (5.0) and Asians (3.8). Since 2016-18, rates have decreased among Asians and Whites (-42% and -10% respectively) and increased among Hispanics and African Americans (up 52% and 33% respectively).

Westchester County's rate among African Americans was higher than the state rate of 5.0 deaths per 100,000, and the highest compared to the counties of Nassau (3.0), Rockland (2.8) and Putnam (0).

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.