Youth Suicide in Idaho: What the Data Means for Families

Idaho's youth suicide rates are among the worst in the nation. Here is what the numbers show, why Idaho is different, and what families can do.

The data on youth suicide in Idaho is difficult to read. It is also essential to understand. Idaho consistently ranks among the worst states in the nation for suicide, and the numbers for young people are particularly alarming. This page presents the data clearly — not to frighten you, but to help you understand the scope of the problem and the urgency of the response. If you are an Idaho parent, these numbers are not about someone else's community. They are about yours. And the same data that documents the crisis also points toward solutions that work: treatment, connection, means restriction, and parents who know what to look for and are willing to act.

Idaho had the 4th highest suicide rate in the United States in 2023. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Idaho youth ages 9–18. Idaho high school students are 22% more likely to make a suicide plan and 25% more likely to attempt suicide than the national average. In Boise's school district, 34% of high school students and 29% of junior high students reported thoughts of suicide in the previous six months. Idaho-specific factors — rural isolation, limited mental health workforce, high rates of firearm ownership, and cultural barriers to help-seeking — compound the risk. Idaho Youth Ranch has served Idaho families for more than 70 years and provides suicide prevention and treatment across the state.

Idaho's Youth Suicide Data

Idaho's Youth Suicide Data: The Numbers

What the numbers show, why Idaho is different, and what families can do

The data comes from multiple sources — the CDC, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and local school district surveys — and all of them tell the same story: Idaho's young people are in crisis.

State rankings

In 2023, Idaho had the 4th highest suicide rate in the United States across all ages. For young people specifically, suicide has been the second leading cause of death among Idaho youth ages 9–18, trailing only accidental death. America's Health Rankings has consistently placed Idaho among the worst states for teen suicide completion rates.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data

According to the CDC's 2021 YRBS data for Idaho high school students: 21.3% seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months; 19.7% made a plan about how they would attempt suicide; 10.9% attempted suicide one or more times; and 3.4% made an attempt that required medical treatment. Idaho high school students are 22% more likely than the national average to make a suicide plan and 25% more likely to attempt suicide.

Local school data

The Boise School District's 2023 wellness survey found that 44% of high school students reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, 34% of high school students had experienced thoughts of suicide in the previous six months, and 29% of junior high students had experienced thoughts of suicide in the same period. These are not statewide outliers — they are consistent with trends observed across Idaho school districts.

The preteen crisis

Nationally, suicide is now the second leading cause of death for children ages 10–14, a trend that has accelerated sharply in recent years. Idaho's data mirrors this national trajectory. The Idaho Healthy Youth Survey includes students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12, and the data shows that suicidal ideation and attempts are not limited to high

Frequently asked questions

Common questions 
parents may have

Answers to some of the questions families often ask when trying to understand these challenges.

Why don’t coping skills always work?

The most common reasons: the skill does not match the function (a calming technique offered to a teen seeking sensation), the skill was introduced during a crisis rather than practiced beforehand, or the emotional intensity exceeded the skill’s capacity. When skills fail, it usually means the match or the timing needs adjustment — not that the teen is failing.

Why don’t coping skills always work?

Frequently asked questions

Common questions 
parents may have

Answers to some of the questions families often ask when trying to understand these challenges.

Where can I find the most current Idaho youth suicide data?

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare maintains suicide data through the Bureau of Vital Records. The CDC’s YRBS provides Idaho-specific data on suicidal ideation and attempts among high school students. America’s Health Rankings provides state-by-state comparisons. The Idaho Healthy Youth Survey covers grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. Links to these resources are included in the Related Resources section below.

What if I live in a rural area with no local mental health providers?

Idaho Youth Ranch serves families across the state, including in rural communities, and offers telehealth for families who cannot access in-person care. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline (208-398-4357) are available 24/7 regardless of location. If your child is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For non-crisis situations, your pediatrician can provide referrals and interim support while you work to access a mental health specialist.

Are things getting better or worse?

The picture is mixed. Idaho’s overall suicide rate decreased somewhat from its 2018 peak, but the state still ranks 4th highest nationally as of 2023. For young people specifically, the concerning trend is the rise in suicidal ideation and attempts among younger students — junior high and even elementary-age children — which mirrors a national pattern. The expansion of 988, school-based prevention programs like SchoolPulse, and increased awareness are positive developments, but the gap between need and available services remains significant.

Why is Idaho’s youth suicide rate so high?

Multiple factors converge: Idaho’s rural geography limits access to mental health services, the state has one of the lowest ratios of mental health providers per capita, high rates of household firearm ownership increase lethality when crises occur, cultural values around self-reliance can delay help-seeking, ACE rates exceed the national average, and economic stressors affect many families. No single factor explains the rate. The combination of all of them does.

What Idaho's youth suicide data means for how you watch over and protect your own child:

Calibrate your concern to Idaho's reality

Idaho's higher-than-average rates mean your threshold for concern and action should be lower than what national guidelines might suggest. If you see any warning signs of depression or suicidal thinking in your child, do not wait to see if they resolve. In a state with limited provider access and high means lethality, early action is even more important.

Secure firearms and medications now

This is the single most impactful step you can take as an Idaho parent. If your child is showing any signs of distress, firearms should be stored outside the home or in a locked safe with ammunition stored separately. Lock up all medications. You do not need to wait for a crisis to take this precaution. It is appropriate for any Idaho household with a child or teen.

Know the resources available to you

988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — available 24/7 by call or text.
911 — for immediate, life-threatening emergencies.

Make a written safety plan with your child's provider

In a state where risk runs high, do not rely on memory or good intentions in a crisis. Work with your child's therapist or doctor to write down a clear safety plan: the warning signs to watch for, the people your child can turn to, the steps you will take, and the numbers to call. Keep it somewhere accessible and make sure both you and your child know it. When a moment of crisis comes, a plan you made together in calmer times gives everyone something steady to follow.

Related resources

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Helpful guides and articles for families seeking more information and support.

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These numbers are heavy, and Idaho families deserve support close to home. Idaho Youth Ranch offers outpatient therapy, family counseling, and residential care across the state, with an emergency help line for youth in crisis at 208-322-2308.

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Idaho Families Deserve Idaho-Based Support

The data is clear about the scope of the problem. It is equally clear that intervention works. Idaho Youth Ranch is here to help your family — wherever you are in the state.