Suicide leading cause of death for young adults in Georgia, new report finds

ATLANTA (WJBF) - A new report from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities reveals suicide is the leading cause of death for young adults in the state, with more than 60% of those deaths occurring in the 20–24 age group.

The data also shows suicide is the second leading cause of death for children ages 10–14 and the third leading cause for people 15–24. In 2023 alone, 249 Georgians under the age of 24 died by suicide. Experts point to isolation, reduced adult oversight, and lack of routine as contributing factors.

“Sometimes there are those signs, but other times you talk to friends or families and they say they did not see it coming at all,” said Kevin Tanner, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. “