connecticut and national suicide data: for general audiences robert h. aseltine, jr., phd, professor...

Connecticut and National Suicide Data:For General Audiences

Robert H. Aseltine, Jr., PhD, ProfessorSara Wakai, PhD, Assistant Professor,

University of Connecticut Health CenterPrepared for CTSAB Annual Meeting

September 26, 2013

Data Sources

• Official Statistics:– Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME),

State of Connecticut– National Vital Statistics Reports (CDC)

• Hospital Data:– Connecticut Hospital Inpatient Discharge

Database (CT DPH)

Data Sources

• Survey Data: Behavior Survey (CDC)– Youth Risk Behavior Survey (CDC)– National Survey on Drug Use and Health

(SAMHSA)

The National and Connecticut Overview (2010)

• 38,364 Suicides in U.S. • 1.6 Percent of All U.S. Deaths• 10th Leading Cause of U.S. Deaths • 342 Suicides in Connecticut in 2010• CT Ranked 45 out of 50 states

Source: McIntosh, J. L., & Drapeau, C. W. (AAS, 2012), OCME

Deaths by Suicide

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), State of Connecticut

National Vital Statistics Reports (CDC)

Average Number of Suicides In CTPer Year 2004-2012

• Average Total: 300 (SD= 48.1)

• Range: 250 (2007) to 367 (2011)

• Average Female: 65 (SD= 17.8)

• Average Male: 235 (SD= 31.2)

Source: OCME

Number of Suicides In CT by Year2004 - 2012

Source: OCME

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400TOTAL

MALE

FEMALE

Connecticut Suicide Rate by Age 2012

Rate: Per 100,000 Source: OCME, DPH

Connecticut Suicide Rate by Race 2012

Rate: Per 100,000 Source: OCME, DPH

Number of Suicides by Month2004 and 2012

Number & Rate of Suicide by CT County 2012

County n Population Rate/100,000 Middlesex 26 166,043 15.7Litchfield 27 188,789 14.3Windham 14 118,151 11.9Tolland 17 152,507 11.2Hartford 99 894,705 11.1New London 30 273,502 11.0New Haven 69 861,113 8.0Fairfield 69 925,899 7.5Total 351 3,580,709 9.8

Rate: Per 100,000 Source: OCME, DPH

Hospitalization for Self-Injury

CT Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database (DPH)

Hospitalization for Self-Inflicted Injuries: CT Hospital Inpatient Discharges Database (2012)

Rate: Per 100,000

Source: CT HIDD (DPH)

Hospitalization for Self-Inflicted Injuries, by County: CT HIDD (2012)

Rate: Per 100,000 Source: CT HIDD, DPH

Comparing Rates of Suicide to Hospitalizations for Self Injury, by CT

County (2012)

Sources: OCME, CT HIDD (DPH)

Age Differences in Rates of Hospitalizations for Self Injury (2012)

Sources: OCME, CT HIDD (DPH)

Age Differences in Rates of Hospitalizations for Self Injury (2012)

Sources: OCME, CT HIDD (DPH)

Self-Report Data

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (CDC)National Survey on Drug Use and

Health (SAMHSA)

2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey ResultsPercent of students who felt sad or hopeless almost every day for

two plus weeks in a row, past 12 months

2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey ResultsPercent of students who seriously considered attempting suicide

during the past 12 months

Source: CDC

2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey ResultsPercent of students who made a plan about how they would

attempt suicide during the past 12 months

Source: CDC

2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey ResultsPercent of students who actually attempted suicide one or more

times during the past 12 months

Source: CDC

2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey ResultsPercent of students who made a suicide attempt during the past 12 months that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to

be treated by a doctor or nurse

Source: CDC

Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results: USPercent of students who seriously considered attempting suicide

during the past 12 months (1991 – 2011)

Source: CDC

Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results: USPercent of students who attempted suicide during the past 12 months

(1991 – 2011)

Source: CDC

Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior Among Adults (2008-2009)

Thought

Plan

Attempt

Percent 95% CI Percent 95% CI Percent 95% CI

US 3.7 (3.5-3.9) 1.0 (0.9-1.1) .5 (0.4-0.5)

CT 4.3 (3.2-5.8) 1.2 (0.6-2.3) 1.0 (0.5-1.9)

Source: CDC, MMWR 2011

Suicidal Thoughts Among Adults, by Gender (2008-2009)

Male FemalePercent 95% CI Percent 95% CI

US 3.5 (3.2-3.8) 3.9 (3.7-4.2)

CT 4.6 (2.7-7.7) 4.0 (2.6-6.3)

Source: CDC, MMWR 2011

Suicidal Thoughts Among Adults, by Race (2008-2009)

White Black Hispanic

Percent 95% CI Percent 95% CI Percent 95% CI

US 3.9 (3.7-4.1) 3.5 (3.1-4.0) 3.0 (2.6-3.6)

CT 4.6 (3.2-6.6) .8 (.3-2.5) 6.3 (3.0-12.7)

Source: CDC, MMWR 2011

Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior Among Adults by Age (2008-2009)

18-29 Years 30+ Years

Percent 95% CI Percent 95% CI

US 5.7 (5.4-6.0) 3.1 (2.9-3.4)

CT 6.2 (3.6-10.5) 3.8 (2.5-5.9)

Source: CDC, MMWR 2011

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), State of

Connecticut and the CT Department of Public Health for assistance in obtaining

data for this presentation.

Contact Information• Robert H. Aseltine, Jr., PhD

Professor, Division of Behavioral Sciences and Community HealthDirector, Institute for Public Health ResearchUniversity of Connecticut Health Center263 Farmington Avenue, MC 3910Farmington, CT 06030-3910Tel: (860) 679-3282aseltine@uchc.edu

• Sara Wakai, PhDAssistant Professor, Department of Medicine Division of Public Health and Population SciencesUniversity of Connecticut Health Center270 Farmington Ave Suite 262- MC6210Farmington, CT 06032Phone: 860-679-5503swakai@uchc.edu