Am J Psychiatry 1980; 137:472-476
Copyright © 1980 by American Psychiatric Association
Violent deaths as a leading cause of mortality: an epidemiologic study of suicide, homicide, and accidents
PC Holinger
In the United States violent deaths (suicide, homicide, and accidents) are
the leading cause of deaths in people aged 1-39 and the third leading cause
of death for people of all ages. Violent death rates have tended to
decrease since 1900. Among 15-24-year-olds, however, the violent death rate
is currently the highest ever recorded in this country, and suicide and
homicide rates among people aged 5-14 and 15- 24 are as high or higher than
any previous recordings. The quantity of expected life lost through violent
deaths is greater than that for any other cause of death.
