Suicide Prevention
Goal:
Measure
The measure in this category includes the number
of suicide mortalities and rate per 100,000 persons.
Why This Indicator is Important
Suicide,
a potentially preventable public health problem, has been a leading cause of
death nationwide for decades. Its impact, whether measured in deaths, attempts,
medical costs, economic impact, or effects on the survivors, is enormous.
Risk factors for suicide include previous suicide attempts, history of mental disorders such as depression, history of alcohol and substance abuse, family history of suicide, barriers to accessing mental health treatment, loss (relational, social, work, or financial), physical illness, and easy access to lethal methods. Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than females although women report attempting suicide during their lifetime about three times as often as men.
In 2006, more than 33,000 suicides occurred in the U.S.; the equivalent of 91 suicides per day. In 2007, there were 395,320 people treated in emergency departments for self-inflicted injuries and 165,997 were hospitalized due to self-inflicted injury. It is estimated that there is one suicide for every 25 attempts.
Caucasians are twice as likely to complete suicide as African Americans, and the highest rate of completions is found in older adults, particularly white males aged seventy-five and older. The impact of suicide is devastating whether measured in terms of numbers of deaths, attempts, economic and medical benefit costs, or the impact on survivors who have lost someone close to them to suicide.
Risk factors for suicide include previous suicide attempts, history of mental disorders such as depression, history of alcohol and substance abuse, family history of suicide, barriers to accessing mental health treatment, loss (relational, social, work, or financial), physical illness, and easy access to lethal methods. Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than females although women report attempting suicide during their lifetime about three times as often as men.
In 2006, more than 33,000 suicides occurred in the U.S.; the equivalent of 91 suicides per day. In 2007, there were 395,320 people treated in emergency departments for self-inflicted injuries and 165,997 were hospitalized due to self-inflicted injury. It is estimated that there is one suicide for every 25 attempts.
Caucasians are twice as likely to complete suicide as African Americans, and the highest rate of completions is found in older adults, particularly white males aged seventy-five and older. The impact of suicide is devastating whether measured in terms of numbers of deaths, attempts, economic and medical benefit costs, or the impact on survivors who have lost someone close to them to suicide.
How Are We Doing?
The
suicide rate in Midland County is slightly higher than in Michigan and the U.S. (13.1 per 100,000 in Midland County
versus 12.9 in Michigan and 12.6 in the U.S.).
Qualitative Indicators for Impact
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