2026: Recognizing the Signs and Prioritizing Suicide Prevention in Athletes

Updated September 2026

Trigger Warning (TW): If any reader is currently struggling with suicidal thoughts, they should seek immediate professional help. In the U.S. call or text The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing an emergency, call 911. This article is not intended to be a replacement for professional medical advice or assistance.

While September is widely recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, it’s critical that we educate ourselves and are aware of a very serious issue that is becoming more prevalent all year long.

The arena is often filled with roaring cheers, the pressure to achieve, and the thrill of competition. But off the field, many athletes grapple silently with mental health challenges. With unique pressures and vulnerabilities, it’s pivotal to recognize and address the signs and provide essential support in suicide prevention.

In the past year alone in NFL, we’ve seen the the loss of current, former, and soon to be players, to suicide.

Kyren Lacy (who was just about to be drafted) – April 2025
Rudi Johnson – September 2025
Marshawn Kneeland – November 2025
Rondale Moore – February 2026
Josh Mauro – April 2026
Jordan Devey – July 2026
Alphonso Smith Jr. — September 2026

The Realities & Statistics

The global landscape of mental health is concerning. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists several key suicide statistics:

More than 700,000 people succumb to suicide every year.
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
Many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-ups, or chronic pain and illness.
Additional risk factors for suicide include mental disorders; previous suicide attempts; experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss, and a sense of isolation; as well as within vulnerable groups who experience discrimination.

In the United States, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists the following facts about suicide:

Suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000–2021.
Suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths in 2021, which is about one death every 11 minutes.
In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicide.
In 2021, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34.
The suicide rate among males in 2021 was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides.

Teen and Young Adult Suicide Statistics:

Suicide is a serious concern for teens and young adults. According to the CDC’s most recent national high-school data, collected through the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey:

20% of U.S. high school students—or 1 in 5—reported seriously considering attempting suicide during the previous year.
16% of U.S. high school students—or 1 in 6—reported making a suicide plan during the previous year.
10% of U.S. high school students—or 1 in 10—reported attempting suicide during the previous year.
These figures represent young people who may be experiencing emotional pain, isolation, pressure, trauma, depression, anxiety, or other challenges. The difference between the number of people who experience suicidal thoughts and the number who die by suicide is an important reminder that there are opportunities for prevention, support, treatment, and connection.

Zooming in on the athletic community, we know that athletes are not immune to mental health struggles. While comprehensive statistics specific to athletes might be sparse, the emotional battles resulting from pressures to perform, fear of failure, and injuries are very real.

Athlete Suicide Statistics:

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among student-athletes ages 15 to 24. (source)
In 2022, five NCAA student-athletes died by suicide within a two-month span. The total number for the year was unavailable at the time that this article was written.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may be associated with a higher risk of suicide. One TBI study found that “in 34 529 deaths by suicide over 35 years, individuals with medical contact for traumatic brain injury, compared with the general population without traumatic brain injury, had an increased risk of suicide, incident rate ratio of 1.90.” Another study from 2020 that looked at the association between suicide risk and TBI found that “The overall risk of suicide attempts was 2.23 times higher in the TBI group compared with the non-TBI group (0.98 vs 0.29 per 1000 person-years, respectively) after adjustment for covariates.”
Adding to this, a CNN article reported that, “Females may be more susceptible to concussion, and they also have worse and prolonged symptoms after their injury than men, according to a review of 25 studies of sport-related concussion published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.”
Note: There is little recent research available specific to athlete suicide rates. Independent reports from families seem to be the most currently available information in regard to the number of athletes who died by suicide, but at the time of this article, there was not a recent formal study available to cite.

College Student Athlete Suicide Statistics

A 2024 peer-reviewed study, “Suicide in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: A 20-Year Analysis,” examined reported deaths among NCAA athletes from 2002 through 2022.

The study found that:

Of 1,102 reported NCAA athlete deaths during the 20-year study period, 128 deaths—11.6%—were classified as suicides.
The overall suicide incidence was 1 death per 71,145 athlete-years.
During the final 10 years of the study, suicide was the second most common cause of death among NCAA athletes, after accidents.
The proportion of NCAA athlete deaths attributed to suicide doubled from 7.6% during the first decade to 15.3% during the second decade.
Among male NCAA athletes, the suicide incidence rate increased by 32% for every five-year period measured.
Male cross-country athletes had the highest observed suicide incidence rate in the study: 1 death per 29,815 athlete-years.
Division I and Division II athletes had higher suicide incidence rates than Division III athletes.
The researchers did not identify statistically significant differences in suicide incidence rates by sex, race, or sport overall.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicide Risk

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be associated with an increased risk of suicide. A large population-based study published in JAMA found that people with medical contact for traumatic brain injury had a higher risk of suicide than people without traumatic brain injury, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.90.

A separate study found that, after adjustment for relevant factors, the risk of a suicide attempt was 2.23 times higher in the TBI group than in the comparison group.

A concussion or TBI does not mean a person will become suicidal. However, TBI can be associated with depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, chronic pain, impaired functioning, and difficulty adjusting after injury—all reasons to take both physical and psychological recovery seriously. Learn more about TBI from the CDC.

The Role of Impulsiveness in Suicide

Suicidal crises are not always planned far in advance. A study of people who survived near-lethal suicide attempts, summarized by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Means Matter initiative, found that many participants reported a short period between first thinking about suicide and acting:

24% said less than 5 minutes
24% said 5-19 minutes
23% said 20 minutes to 1 hour
16% said 2-8 hours
13% said 1 or more days

These findings are one reason that immediate support, safe storage or temporary removal of lethal means during a crisis, and creating time and distance between thoughts and action can save lives. CDC suicide-prevention resources outline evidence-based prevention strategies.

If You or Someone Else Needs Help

If you or someone you know is struggling, experiencing emotional distress, or thinking about suicide, support is available.

In the United States, call or text 988, or use online chat through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be contacted for yourself or for help supporting a friend, teammate, family member, or loved one.

If someone is in immediate danger or may act on suicidal thoughts right away, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Understanding and recognizing potential warning signs can be a life-saving intervention:

Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can help save lives. Learn about behaviors that may be a sign that someone is thinking about suicide. For more information, visit https://go.usa.gov/xVCyZ

Verbal cues: Statements like “I can’t go on,” “I have nothing to live for,” or “I want out” can be glaring red flags. You may also hear them talk about feeling trapped or like they no longer recognize themselves, are in unbearable pain, or feel like a burden. However, do not rely on verbal clues alone as some individuals will internalize their thoughts and pain.
Behavioral cues: A significant deviation from routine behavior, retreating from favorite activities, or social isolation might signal distress. Do not assume someone just wants more alone time than usual, or they are just being a “teenager” or any other assumption. If there is a change in their normal behavior, have a discussion with them. You may also notice them writing, drawing, or talking about death.
Emotional cues: Watch out for heightened irritability, bouts of hopelessness, sudden mood transitions, or increasing anxiety. Extreme mood swings are also another sign.

For athletes, added layers of stress from performance expectations or physical injuries can exacerbate these signs.

How to Offer Support

Support isn’t always about solving someone’s problems but about showing you’re there:

Open the dialogue: Create a safe space for conversation. Just listening can make a significant impact. Ask open-ended questions (i.e., not ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions). Also, let the person know that you don’t have to offer advice or solutions; you can just listen. In addition, keep asking because the person may not open up at first; a safe space is a consistent space.
Avoid dismissing their feelings: It’s vital to approach their feelings with empathy and understanding. Validate what they are saying. Listen without judgment.
Encourage professional help: Gently suggest seeking therapy or counseling. You may also want to offer to help the person find the right support and take them to the appointment. Mental illness can feel very isolating and scary, so helping the person get to the right resource can be a huge difference maker.
Stay connected: A simple message, call, or meetup can be a beacon of hope. Check in regularly. Offer to spend time with them doing an activity you both enjoy and may make it easier for them to open up to you.

What to Say if You Are Struggling

If you are struggling, take the step to ask for help. It may be the hardest and most courageous thing you’ll ever do for yourself, but never give up. Always choose life.

If you’re having trouble finding the right words, here are some phrases to consider:

This isn’t easy for me to say, but I need help, and you are someone that I trust. I am struggling with some inner stuff, and I’m not sure where to start. Do you have some time to speak with me?
Hey, I’m not feeling okay lately and need someone to talk to.
I am not feeling like myself lately. Can we talk today?

Major Key: Keep asking until you get help. Don’t ever give up on yourself! You matter!

There are always solutions. Even if you can’t see it in the moment, there are always options, and it is 100% possible to regain your happiness, freedom, and inner peace. Give yourself that chance.