Adult Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009

Introduction

An average of 319 Utah adults ages 20-64 die from suicide each year. However, completed suicides are only part of the problem. More adults are hospitalized or treated in an emergency department (ED) for suicide attempts than are fatally injured (Figure 1). On average, eight Utahns 20-64 years of age are treated in the ED or hospitalized every day because of suicide attempts.1 All suicide attempts should be taken seriously. Those who survive suicide attempts are often gravely injured and many have depression or other mental health problems.
Figure 1: Rate of Suicides and Suicide Attempts, Ages 20-64, Utah, 2005-2009
160.0

Utah and U.S.

Utahs adult suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national rate (Figure 2) for the last decade. Utah has the 8th highest suicide rate in the U.S.2
Figure 2: Rate of Suicides by Year, Ages 20-64, Utah and U.S., 1999-2009
30.0

Rate per 100,000 Population

140.0 120.0 100.0 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 20.9 68.5

131.4

Rate per 100,000 Population

Deaths

Hospitalizations

Emergency Department Visits

25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0

18.3 18.3

19.5

20.3

22.0 19.1

24.0 20.1 19.4 20.0 20.7

Deaths and Injuries

13.3 13.3

14.7 13.8 14.2 14.2 14.4 14.3

15.2 Utah U.S.

Utah Trends

The 2009 Utah adult suicide rate was 24.0 per 100,000 population ages 20-64.1 Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for this age group.1

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Age and Sex

Males (32.4 per 100,000 population) had a significantly higher suicide rate than females (9.1 per 100,000 population). Males had higher suicide rates than females in every age group.1

Utah Department of Health Violence & Injury Prevention Program

Adult Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009

Males 50-54 years of age (40.9 per 100,000 population) had the highest suicide rate among males. Females ages 40-44 (16.3 per 100,000 population) had the highest suicide rate among females (Figure 3).1
Figure 3: Rate of Suicide Attempts by Age and Sex, Ages 20-64, Utah, 2005-2009
60.0 50.0 35.4 40.0 30.0 16.3 20.0 10.0 0.0 4.6 6.2 7.5 12.3 8.8 10.9 12.0 6.3 31.5 29.3 27.9 27.2 Male Female 40.9 34.8 31.5

Additional suicide data by small areas are available in the Utah Violence and Injury Small Area Report at http://health.utah.gov/vipp.

Method of Injury

Rate per 100,000 population

38.8

Firearms were the most common method of suicide for adult males, followed by suffocation and poisoning. Poisoning were the most common method of suicide for adult females, followed by firearms and suffocation.1

Risk Factors
Previous suicide attempt(s) History of depression or mental illness Alcohol or drug abuse Family history of suicide or violence Physical illness Feeling alone or hopelessness Relational, social, work, or financial loss

Age Group

Location of Injury
The majority of adult suicides occurred at a home or apartment (71.0%). The second most common location was inside a motor vehicle (10.3%).3

Geographic Location

TriCounty and Weber-Morgan Local Health Districts (LHD) had significantly higher suicide rates compared to the state rate.1 Among Utahs small areas, Ben Lomond, Sevier/Piute/Wayne Counties, Carbon/Emery Counties, TriCounty, and Glendale had significantly higher suicide rates compared to the state rate.1

There were differences in mental and behavioral health circumstances surrounding teen, adult, and older adult suicides. Adult males had significantly higher rates of alcohol problems compared to teen and older adult males. They also had significantly higher diagnosed mental illness, current mental illness, and a history of mental illness treatment compared to teen males and significantly higher substance

Adult Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009

Figure 4: Percentage of Reported Mental and Behavioral Health Suicide Circumstances by Teen, Adult, and Older Adult Males, Utah, 2005-2009

Percent

abuse problems compared to older adult males (Figure 4).3 Adult females had significantly higher diagnosed mental illness, current mental illness, and a history of mental illness treatment compared to teen females (Figure 5).3 Differences were also seen in life stressors. Adult males had significantly higher job problems and financial problems compared to teen and older adult males. They also had significantly higher intimate partner problems and suicide of family/ friends compared to older adult males and significantly higher physical health problems compared to teen males (Figure 6).3 Adult females had significantly higher job problems compared to teen and older adult females (Figure 7).3

100.0 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 Diagnosed mental illness Current mental illness treatment History of mental illness treatment Circumstance Alcohol problem Substance abuse problem 28.7 44.3 37.8 22.3 36.2 30.9 44.5 36.4 7.5 18.1 6.6 25.5 22.7 3.3 Teen (15-19) Adult (20-64) Older Adult (65+)

27.8

Figure 5: Percentage of Reported Mental and Behavioral Health Suicide Circumstances by Teen, Adult, and Older Adult Females, Utah, 2005-2009
100.0 80.0
Percent

75.8 46.2

Teen (15-19) 55.0

Adult (20-64) 67.7 34.6 50.0

Older Adult (65+) 46.2

75.5

55.0

60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 Diagnosed mental illness

Current mental illness treatment Circumstance

History of mental illness treatment

Figure 6: Percentage of Reported Life Stressor Suicide Circumstances by Teen, Adult, and Older Adult Males, Utah, 2005-2009
100.0 80.0
Percent

Teen (15-19) 62.3 44.7 47.2 34.0 14.1 13.3 16.9 2.0

Adult (20-64)

Older Adult (65+)

60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0

11.3

7.3

2.1

2.3 **

1.1

6.4

15.9 1.1 4.0

14.9 0.3 **

Intimate partner Other relationship Suicide of family / problem problem friend

Physical health problem Circumstance

Job problem

Financial problem

School problem

**The rate has been suppressed because the estimate is unreliable.

Figure 7: Percentage of Reported Life Stressor Suicide Circumstances by Teen, Adult, and Older Adult Females, Utah, 2005-2009
100.0 80.0 42.3
Percent

Teen (15-19)

Adult (20-64) 55.0

Older Adult (65+)

60.0 20.0 40.0 17.6 20.0 ** 0.0 4.6

25.0 7.7 21.3 8.4 ** Physical health problem Circumstance ** Job problem

3.8 ** **

Other relationship problem Death of family / friend

School problem

**The rate has been suppressed because the estimate is unreliable.

Adult Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009

Call for help. Help is available 24 hours a day 7

days a week. Call 1-800-273-TALK. Take any threat of suicide seriously.

Prevention Tips

Do not leave the person alone.

Listen to and dont judge anyone you think may be in trouble. Take action. Remove guns or pills to prevent a suicide attempt.

For the years 2005-2007, the average total charges per year for ED visits and hospitalizations for suicide attempts among Utah adults ages 20-64 was $18.4 million.1

Cost

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org (800) 273-TALK (8255) Suicide Prevention Resource Center www.sprc.org National Alliance on Mental Illness Utah Chapter www.namiut.org Preventing Suicide: A resource for media professionals www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/resource_media.pdf

Resources

References
1 Utahs Indicator Based Information System for Public Health (IBIS-PH), 2005-2009 data [cited 2011 Mar] 2 CDC, Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), 2003-2007 data [cited 2011 Mar] 3 Violence and Injury Prevention Program, 2005-2009 Utah Violent Death Reporting System, Utah Department of Health

Last updated: November 2011

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