Suicide Rates Are Higher in the West

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Suicide Rates Are Higher in the West

DENVER--State health officials Wednesday reported that the top 10 states for suicide death rates are all in the Western United States, and that with the exception of Alaska and Oregon, are in the Rocky Mountain region. Alaska ranks first for annual suicide deaths and Oregon ties with Colorado at 7th. Other rankings include: Nevada (2), New Mexico (3), Montana (4), Wyoming (5), Arizona (6), Oklahoma (9) and Utah (10).

Cindy Hodge, program manager of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Office of Suicide Prevention, said that Colorado loses approximately 700 of its citizens each year to suicide.

She said that Colorado's suicide rate has consistently been 40 percent above the national average since data was first collected in 1910.

In Colorado, suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-34. However, the elderly have the highest rate of suicide because of the small numbers in the overall elderly population.

Hodge said, "There have been a number of theories about why the suicide rates are higher in this part of the country. One thought is that the West tends to attract people who are more independent and have a 'frontier mentality'-just pick yourself up by your boot straps and handle it yourself. Also, people often move to the West and, as a result, are farther from extended family and their natural family and friend support systems are reduced."

Another theory, Hodge said, is that in the West there is more stigma attached to asking for help and receiving treatment for mental health disorders like depression.

"Treatment also may actually be harder to access in the West due to limited mental health funding and the challenges presented because so many people live in rural areas where there are fewer treatment providers and natural geographic challenges in getting to appointments," she said.

Hodge emphasized that both suicide deaths and suicide attempts are costly to Colorado. An estimated $59 million in direct costs and $571.3 million in indirect costs in 2000 related to suicide were reported in the Suicide in Colorado Report, published by The Colorado Trust.

Because there are no clear answers to why Colorado and other Western states have higher suicide rates than the national average, Hodge said, a number of national experts continue to study the data to try to determine the cause.

In Colorado, the Office of Suicide Prevention actively works with numerous organizations to reduce the number of deaths by suicide across the state.

"It will take a concerted community wide effort to save these valuable lives," Hodge emphasized.

"And, suicide prevention programs in Colorado are working to provide such an effective effort that will save lives." she said.

Individuals who are interested in becoming involved in suicide prevention efforts in their communities can call the Office of Suicide Prevention at (303) 692-2560.

"Suicide prevention is everyone's business," concluded Hodge.

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/release/2003/050703.html

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