Download - Suicide 101
Suicide 101
Peter M. Gutierrez, Ph.D.VA VISN 19 MIRECC
Department of Psychiatry University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
National Vital Statistics Reports, 56(10)
National Mortality Data - 2005
• 32,637 Suicide Deaths (11.0)
• 25,907 Male Suicide Deaths (17.7)
• 11th Leading Cause of Death
• Rate for 25-34 y/o 12.4
• Colorado 6th Highest Rate (17.1)
National Vital Statistics Reports, 56(10)
Estimated Attempts - 2005
• No Official National Data Compiled
• 816,000 (25:1)
• One Attempt Every 39 Seconds
• 3 Female Attempts for Every Male
VA Suicide Data Sources
• VA relies on multiple sources of information to identify deaths that are potentially due to suicide– VA 's own Beneficiary Identification and
Records Locator Subsystem– Records from the Social Security
Administration– Data compiled by the National Center for
Health Statistics in its National Death Index
National Death Index Matched to Service Members Separating
2002-2005 • VA examined OEF/OIF service
members who separated from service in that time period
• Male veterans 18-29 who used VA care died by suicide at a rate of 21.0/ 100,000, compared to veterans of that age who did not use VA for care (30.4)
NDI Findings Continued
• Male veterans aged 30-64 who used VA for care died of suicide at a rate of 17.5 compared to a rate of 22.8 for those who did not use VA for care (ns)
• only 3 women OEF/OIF veterans died of suicide through 2005, accurate rates within age groups cannot be calculated
VA Efforts to Track Suicide Attempts
• Suicide Prevention Coordinators now compiling data on suicide attempts, of which they are aware, at all 153 medical centers nationwide
• In place for past 22 months
Year of Death
Age Group Veteran Not a Veteran
Veteran Status
Unknown
Total
200410-17 * 34 * 3418-24 5 80 * 8525-44 45 264 * 30945-64 89 210 * 30165+ 55 34 * 89Total 194 622 * 818
200510-17 * 31 * 3118-24 8 112 * 12025-44 41 238 * 27945-64 73 194 * 26765+ 72 41 * 113Total 194 616 * 810
200610-17 * 21 * 2118-24 4 91 * 9525-44 29 247 * 27645-64 57 188 4 24965+ 55 28 * 83Total 145 575 4 724
Veteran Status for Suicide Deaths in ColoradoData from the Colorado Violent Death Reporting System
* Indicates fewer than 3 deaths; "Veteran" indicates only that the person served in the US Armed Services
Lessons Learned from OEF/OIF Veterans
• Qualitative study of combat veterans
• Impacts of deployment
• Coping strategies developed in theater don't work as well at home
• Role of burdensomeness, failed belongingness, and habituation to painful stimuli
Brenner et al., 2008
Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Suicidality and Psychiatric Admission – VA TBI Survivors
• 22 Subjects
• Total Number of Admissions: 114– Median Number of Admissions: 3– Range of Admissions: 1-20
Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Suicidal Ideation Assessed at Time of Admission
% Assessed87%
% Not Assessed13%
Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Suicidal Ideation Present at Time of Admission
Present53%
Not Present47%
Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Number of Admissions Secondary to a Suicide Attempt
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140Total Number ofAdmissions = 122
Total Number ofAdmissionsSecondary to aSuicide Attempt =14 (6 patients)
11% of total admissionsNumber of attempts 1-5
Median - 2
Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Attempt Method
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Overdose - 7
Self Inflicted Wound- 6
Traumatic Injury - 1
National Suicide Crisis Line 1-800-273-TALK
• Press 1 for Veteran
• Partnership with the Lifeline Program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Went live July, 2007
Impact of VA Crisis Line - Nationally
• As of April ‘09, more than 120,000 calls have come to the hotline from veterans, family members, or friends
• 3060 rescues involving emergency services