Guam confronts mounting suicide rates

By Jayvee Vallejera

Guam recorded 43 suicide deaths in 2024, averaging 3.5 a month—the highest in four years and significantly higher than in the national rate.

This translates to an age-adjusted crude rate of 28.9 per 100,000 residents, nearly double the national rate, according to the 2024 State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup report on Guam.

Mental health specialists said the alarming trend underscored the need for heightened awareness, prevention strategies and accessible support services. 

While suicide rates in the U.S. mainland have remained relatively flat over the past decade, Guam’s rate has climbed steadily, according to the same report.

The 2024 suicide deaths—the latest available statistics—were higher than the number in 2020, the Covid year, which posted 40 cases.

The number went down in 2021 with 26 suicides deaths but went up to 28 in 2022 and 31 in 2023.

As Guam marks September as Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month and Substance Use Prevention & Treatment Recovery Month, the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center is taking the lead in preventing suicide and combatting substance abuse, providing mentorship and support and strengthening the community’s mental health.

Several unique local factors are driving the suicide trend on Guam, said Sara D. Harrell, supervisor of the Prevention and Training Branch at the behavioral health agency.

The lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and Supertyphoon Mawar in 2023 continue to weigh heavily on Guam residents, she said.

With tourism revenue remaining well below pre-pandemic levels, the epidemiological office tracked the employment status among suicide cases in 2024. It found that nearly half of those who died were unemployed.

Relationship conflicts were also noted in over a third of the cases and nearly half of those who died had documented history of drug and alcohol abuse.

Unlike in the U.S. mainland, where guns account for a majority of suicide deaths, hanging is the primary method on Guam, and guns represent a minuscule fraction.

Suicides on the island disproportionally affect young adults and men. That’s in contrast to the U.S. mainland, where suicide risk peaks among individuals aged 85 and older. On Guam, the highest rate occurs among adults aged 30 to 39.

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Nearly half of all suicide deaths over the last decade were people under the age of 30, Harrell said.

The suicide crisis is not happening in a vacuum, with substance abuse seen as closely tied to mental health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six adults on Guam indulged in binge drinking in 2025.

Marijuana use among Guam’s youth is also markedly higher than among adults. The Guam State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup found that one in four high school students on Guam are using marijuana.

Guam’s smoking prevalence is also the highest in the country. One in six adults is a smoker. E-cigarette use or “vaping” among Guam youth is the highest in the nation and in the West Pacific region.

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The report said opioid misuse is an emerging concern on Guam due to low awareness about its danger.

Specialists said drug addiction, which stems from underlying mental health issues, are treatable and recoverable. Yet cultural and societal barriers continue to prevent many residents from reaching out for help when facing emotional or psychological distress.

Harrell said stigma remains a significant barrier, with concerns about privacy and family reputation. She said men are least likely to seek help due to the pressure of maintaining a self-sufficient image.

Despite these hurdles, Harrell said cultural values can become powerful instruments for healing and support.

“Promoting or normalizing help-seeking behaviors can start at home, which is natural for a matrilineal community like ours,” she said. “With proper resources and prevention education, we can also empower and leverage our faith communities and extended-family dynamics to make help more available and accessible to those who need it.”

For immediate crisis support, call or text the free 988 Lifeline anytime, or visit the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center website at gbhwc.guam.gov to explore available community services and treatment programs.

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