Suicide rates in West Virginia have been rising steadily and men are at a higher risk than women.

A report released Tuesday by the state Health Statistics Center found that about 265 West Virginians die by suicide every year, about 80 percent of them men.

The suicide rate among West Virginia women increased from 3.5 suicides per 100,000 people in 1999 to 5.4 in 2004. During the same period, the rate for men increased from 21.7 suicides per 100,000 people to 26.3.

Also alarming were indications that the suicide rate among all adults ages 20 to 44 is rising. The number of suicides for that age group increased from 320 between 1999 and 2001 to 382 between 2002 and 2004.