Safe Rhode Island:
Violence and Injury Prevention Program

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Violence and Suicide Prevention Team, youth violence is not limited to youth on youth violence, but may involve a youth victim and an adult perpetrator, or vice versa. The salient feature of youth violence is that the perpetrator, the victim, or both are under 25 years of age. Youth violence also includes self-directed violence.

Rhode Island Youth Homicide Statistics
According to WISQARS, the CDC’s interactive database system , homicide was the second leading cause of death for Rhode Islanders aged 15 to 24 years, during 1999 - 2002. The homicide rate for 15-24 year olds is more than double the overall rate in Rhode Island (WISQARS, 2005). Homicide disproportionately affects young minority Rhode Islanders (WISQARS,2005).

Rhode Island Youth Suicide Statistics
During the years 1999 - 2002, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Rhode Islanders aged 20-24 AND the 3rd leading cause of death for Rhode Islanders aged 15 - 19 (WISQARS, 2005).

According to the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (RIYRBS, 2003), 14.1% of high school students in Rhode Island seriously considered attempting suicide in the 12 months preceding the survey and 8.3% of students reported making an actual suicide attempt. Although there was a significant linear decrease in the amount of students reporting serious suicidal ideation from 1997 – 2003, there was no decrease in the actual number of suicide attempts reported during the same survey period (RIYRBS, 2003).

For more information on suicide, click here.

For more information on Rhode Island youth violence statistics , click here.