Suicide Surveillance Indicator Framework

The Suicide Surveillance Indicator Framework (SSIF) provides information on suicide and self-inflicted injury outcomes and its associated risk and protective factors. The SSIF contains a core set of indicators grouped by suicide and self-inflicted injury outcomes and four key domains as listed below. Each indicator has a corresponding measure. For each measure in the SSIF, pan-Canadian estimates are available, along with breakdowns by key demographic and socioeconomic variables.

For a quick overview of the SSIF, click on any of the domains listed below. A list of all indicators and measures within the domain, with their corresponding pan-Canadian estimates, will unfold. Additionally, a detailed description of each measure can be obtained by clicking on the “Description” link next to each measure. The most current version of the SSIF's Quick Stats is also available in a printer-friendly format.

The “Data Tool” button situated below brings you to a selection tool that provides access to all available data breakdowns for every indicator in the SSIF.

Use the SSIF Data Tool

SSIF's Quick Stats is also available in a printer-friendly format (PDF document). For an accessible equivalent, please use the table below.

SSIF's Quick Stats is also available in a printer-friendly format (.pdf document)

Quick Stats Overview

For more information about each indicator, click on the domains below:

Suicide and Self-inflicted Injury Outcomes
Indicator Group Indicator Measure(s) Latest Data Source (Year) Description
Suicide mortality Mortality rate due to suicide, total population 12.3 per 100,000 CVSD (2015) DescriptionMortality rate due to suicide, total population
Self-inflicted injuries — hospitalizations Hospitalization rate associated with self-inflicted injuries (excluding Quebec) 50.2 per 100,000 DAD (2016/2017) DescriptionHospitalization rate associated with self-inflicted injuries (excluding Quebec)
Self-inflicted injuries — emergency department Emergency department (ED) presentation rate for self-inflicted injuries, Ontario 126.8 per 100,000 NACRS (2016/2017, ON) DescriptionEmergency department (ED) presentation rate for self-inflicted injuries, Ontario
Emergency department (ED) presentation rate for self-inflicted injuries, Alberta 174.1 per 100,000 NACRS (2016/2017, AB) DescriptionEmergency department (ED) presentation rate for self-inflicted injuries, Alberta
Proportion of emergency department (ED) presentations for self-inflicted injuries of total eCHIRPP cases among 10- to 24-year-olds 1,564.4 per 100,000 eCHIRPP (1.4.2011-1.3.2018) DescriptionProportion of emergency department (ED) presentations for self-inflicted injuries of total eCHIRPP cases among 10- to 24-year-olds
Suicidal thoughts Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report ever having serious thoughts of suicide or taking their own life (lifetime) 11.8% CCHS (2016) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report ever having serious thoughts of suicide or taking their own life (lifetime)
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having serious thoughts of suicide or taking their own life in past 12 months 2.5% CCHS (2016) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having serious thoughts of suicide or taking their own life in past 12 months
Suicidal plans Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report ever making a suicide plan (lifetime) 4.0% CCHS (2016) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report ever making a suicide plan (lifetime)
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report making a suicide plan in past 12 months 0.7% CCHS (2016) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report making a suicide plan in past 12 months
Suicidal attempts Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report ever attempting suicide or to take their own life (lifetime) 3.1% CCHS (2016) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report ever attempting suicide or to take their own life (lifetime)
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report attempting suicide or to take their own life in past 12 months 0.4% CCHS (2016) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report attempting suicide or to take their own life in past 12 months
Individual-level Risk and Protective Factors
Indicator Group Indicator Measure(s) Latest Data Source (Year) Description
Health status Percentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who self-rate their health as "fair" or "poor" 11.2% CCHS (2017) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who self-rate their health as "fair" or "poor"
Percentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who self-rate their mental health as "fair" or "poor" 7.1% CCHS (2017) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who self-rate their mental health as "fair" or "poor"
Percentage (%) of the population aged 12+ with moderate or severe disability, as per the Health Utilities Index (HUI) 21.4% CCHS (2015) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 12+ with moderate or severe disability, as per the Health Utilities Index (HUI)
Percentage (%) of population aged 12+ with one or more of these major chronic diseases: cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and/or respiratory 24.0% CCHS (2017) DescriptionPercentage (%) of population aged 12+ with one or more of these major chronic diseases: cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and/or respiratory
Chronic pain Percentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who report having pain that prevents "some" or "most" activities 8.3% CCHS (2015) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who report having pain that prevents "some" or "most" activities
Sleep disturbances Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having trouble going to sleep or staying asleep "most" or "all" of the time 14.5% CCHS (2012) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having trouble going to sleep or staying asleep "most" or "all" of the time
Stress Percentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who perceive most days as being "quite a bit" or "extremely" stressful 21.7% CCHS (2017) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who perceive most days as being "quite a bit" or "extremely" stressful
Mental illness Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report symptoms consistent with mood and/or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in past 12 months 6.5% CCHS (2012) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report symptoms consistent with mood and/or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in past 12 months
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having been diagnosed with schizophrenia and/or psychosis by a health professional 1.3% CCHS (2012) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having been diagnosed with schizophrenia and/or psychosis by a health professional
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having been diagnosed with an eating disorder by a health professional 0.4% CCHS (2012) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having been diagnosed with an eating disorder by a health professional
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by a health professional 1.7% CCHS (2012) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by a health professional
Violence Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report experiencing, before age 15, at least once: physical and/or sexual abuse by someone 18+ and/or exposure to violence exhibited by parents or guardians 34.1% GSS (2014) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report experiencing, before age 15, at least once: physical and/or sexual abuse by someone 18+ and/or exposure to violence exhibited by parents or guardians
Percentage (%) of the population 15+ who report being victim of physical and/or sexual assault in past 12 months 4.1% GSS (2014) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population 15+ who report being victim of physical and/or sexual assault in past 12 months
Percentage (%) of Grade 6–12 students who report being bullied by other students in past 30 days 25.1% CSTADS (2014–2015) DescriptionPercentage (%) of Grade 6–12 students who report being bullied by other students in past 30 days
Substance use Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ whose reported alcohol consumption exceeds Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol-Drinking Guidelines in past 12 months 15.2% CTADS (2013) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ whose reported alcohol consumption exceeds Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol-Drinking Guidelines in past 12 months
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report experiencing at least one harm in past year due to illicit drug use 2.9% CTADS (2013) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report experiencing at least one harm in past year due to illicit drug use
School environment Percentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who "agree" or "strongly agree" that they feel they belong at their school 63.2% HBSC (2013-2014) DescriptionPercentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who "agree" or "strongly agree" that they feel they belong at their school
Personality In development
Family-level Risk and Protective Factors
Indicator Group Indicator Measure(s) Latest Data Source (Year) Description
Family relationship Percentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who "agree" or "strongly agree" that they get the emotional help and support they need from own family 64.8% HBSC (2013-2014) DescriptionPercentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who "agree" or "strongly agree" that they get the emotional help and support they need from own family
Percentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who "agree" or "strongly agree" having a lot of arguments with their parents 21.7% HBSC (2013-2014) DescriptionPercentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who "agree" or "strongly agree" having a lot of arguments with their parents
Percentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who report it is "easy" or "very easy" to talk to their parents about things that really bother them 83.2% HBSC (2013-2014) DescriptionPercentage (%) of Grade 6-10 students who report it is "easy" or "very easy" to talk to their parents about things that really bother them
Family mental illness and substance use a. Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ with one or more family members who have problems with their emotions, mental health, or use of alcohol or drugs 39.3% CCHS (2012) Descriptiona. Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ with one or more family members who have problems with their emotions, mental health, or use of alcohol or drugs
b. Among those with one or more family members who have problems with their emotions, mental health, or use of alcohol or drugs, percentage (%) who report that their life is affected "some" or "a lot" by their family member's problems 35.2% CCHS (2012) Descriptionb. Among those with one or more family members who have problems with their emotions, mental health, or use of alcohol or drugs, percentage (%) who report that their life is affected "some" or "a lot" by their family member's problems
Family history of suicide-related behaviour In development
Community-level Risk and Protective Factors
Indicator Group Indicator Measure(s) Latest Data Source (Year) Description
Social support Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having no family or close friends to talk to about what is on their mind, feel at ease with, or call on for help 0.6% GSS (2013) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report having no family or close friends to talk to about what is on their mind, feel at ease with, or call on for help
Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the communication frequency with friends and relatives not living with them 91.2% GSS (2013) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who report being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the communication frequency with friends and relatives not living with them
Sense of community belonging Percentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who report a "somewhat strong" or "very strong" belonging to their local community 69.3% CCHS (2017) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 12+ who report a "somewhat strong" or "very strong" belonging to their local community
Suicide contagion/clusters In development
Societal-level Risk and Protective Factors
Indicator Group Indicator Measure(s) Latest Data Source (Year) Description
Mental health service access a. Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who perceived a need for mental care in past 12 months 17.7% CCHS (2012) Descriptiona. Percentage (%) of the population aged 15+ who perceived a need for mental care in past 12 months
b. Among those who perceived a need for mental care in past 12 months, percentage (%) who reported such need was "not met" or only "partially met" 33.2% CCHS (2012) Descriptionb. Among those who perceived a need for mental care in past 12 months, percentage (%) who reported such need was "not met" or only "partially met"
Firearm possession Percentage (%) of the population aged 18+ possessing an individual firearm license as of December 2016 7.3% RCMP (2016) DescriptionPercentage (%) of the population aged 18+ possessing an individual firearm license as of December 2016
Mental health literacy In development
Media reporting guidelines (adherence to) In development
Stigma In development
Poisoning control In development

Notes

  • Abbreviations:
    • Surveys: CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey; CSTADS, Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey; CTADS, Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey; CVSD, Canadian Vital Statistics–Death Database; DAD, Discharge Abstract Database; eCHIRPP, electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program; GSS, General Social Survey; HBSC, Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children; NACRS, National Ambulatory Care Reporting System; RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
    • Other: HUI, Health Utilities Index.
    • "In development": measures whose data source is currently not available or for which more research is needed to identify a promising measure and data source.
  • Suggested Citation: Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research (2019). Suicide Surveillance Indicator Framework Quick Statistics, Canada, 2019 Edition. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada.
  • For questions or comments, please contact us at: phac.infobase.aspc@canada.ca
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Date modified:
2021-10-06