teen suicide in utah, 2005-2009health.utah.gov/vipp/pdf/factsheets/teensuicide.pdf · teen suicide...
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Utah Department of Health Violence & Injury Prevention Program
Teen Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009
IntroductionAn average of 22 Utahns ages 15-19 die from suicide each year.1 However, many more
teens are hospitalized or treated in an emergency department (ED) for suicide attempts than are fatally injured (Figure 1). On average, two Utahns 15-19 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.
Utah high school students reported the following:2
• 26.0% felt sad or hopeless,• 15.4% seriously considered attempting suicide, • 11.5% made a suicide plan,• 7.2% attempted suicide one or more times, and • 3.2% of students suffered an injury, poisoning, or an overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse due to a suicide attempt.
Utah and U.S.Utah’s teen suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national rate for the last decade (Figure 2). Utah had the 12th highest teen suicide rate in the U.S.3
Utah TrendsThe 2009 Utah teen suicide rate was 12.1 per 100,000 population ages 15-19.1 Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for this age group.1
10.7
77.2
315.4
0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
Deaths Hospitalizations Emergency DepartmentVisits
Rate
per
100
,000
Pop
ulat
ion
Deaths and Injuries
Figure 1: Rate of Suicides and Suicide Attempts, Ages 15-19, Utah, 2005-2009
13.412.5
11.712.8 13.5 13.1
8.6
10.4 10.711.5
12.1
8.0 8.0 7.9 7.4 7.2 8.2
7.67.3 6.9 7.4
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Rat
e pe
r 100
,000
pop
ulat
ion
Year
Utah
U.S.
Figure 2: Rate of Suicides by Year, Ages 15-19, Utah and U.S., 1999-2009
Age and SexMore females attempt suicide than males. In Utah, teen females had a significantly higher ED visit and hospitalization rates for suicide attempts compared to teen males (Figure 3).1
In addition, suicide attempt rates increase significantly after age 14. Teens ages 15-17 have a significantly higher ED visit rate compared to teens ages 18-19 (Figure 4).1
Teen males (16.8 per 100,000 population) had a significantly higher
suicide rate than teen females (4.6 per 100,000 population).1
Location of InjuryThe majority of youth suicides oc-curred at a home or an apartment (71.7%). The second most common location were natural areas, such as fields or mountains (8.3%).4
Geographic LocationSalt Lake Valley Local Health District (LHD) had significantly higher teen ED visit rates for suicide attempts than the state rate. Tooele County LHD had a significantly higher teen hospitaliza-tion rate for suicide attempts com-pared to the state rate. There were no significant differences in teen suicide rates by LHD.
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 InjuryPoisoning was the most common method of suicide attempts for teens. Suffocation was the most common method of teen suicide.1
Risk Factors• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of depression or mental illness
• Alcohol or drug abuse
Teen Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009
13.5
69.374.6
329.9
80.8
295.6
0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
400.0
Hospitalizations Emergency Department Visits
Rate
per
100
,000
pop
ulati
on
Suicide Attempts
10-14
15-17
18-19
Figure 4: Rate of Suicide Attempts by Age Group, Utah, 2005-2009
22.0
5.9
40.9
9.6
0.05.0
10.015.020.025.030.035.040.045.0
Emergency Department Visits Hospitalizations
Rate
per
100
,000
pop
ulati
on
Suicide Attempts
Male
Female
Figure 3: Rate of Suicide Attempts by Sex, Ages 15-19, Utah, 2005-2009
Teen Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009
• Family history of suicide or violence
• Easy access to lethal meth-ods (such as guns or pills)
• Stressful life event or loss
• Relationship or school prob-lems
There were differences in mental and behavioral health circum-stances surrounding teen, adult, and older adult suicides. Teen males had significantly higher substance abuse problems compared to older adult males (Figure 5). No differences were seen among teen females.4
Differences were also seen in life stressors. Teen males had sig-nificantly higher other relaton-ship problems and school problems compared to adult and older adult males. They also had sig-nificantly higher intimate part-ner problems (Figure 6). Teens had a significantly higher history of suicide attempts compared to older adult males.4
Teen females had significantly higher school problems com-pared to older adult females and significantly higher other rela-tionship problems compared to adults (Figure 7).4
**The rate has been suppressed because the estimate is unreliable.
**The rate has been suppressed because the estimate is unreliable.
28.7 22.330.9
7.5
25.5
44.336.2
44.5
18.1 22.7
37.827.8
36.4
6.6 3.3
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Diagnosed mental illness Current mental illnesstreatment
History of mental illnesstreatment
Alcohol problem Substance abuse problem
Perc
ent
Circumstance
Teen (15-19) Adult (20-64) Older Adult (65+)
Figure 5: Percentage of Reported Mental and Behavioral Health Suicide Circumstances by Teen, Adult, and Older Adult Males, Utah, 2005-2009
44.7
34.0
2.1 1.1 6.41.1
14.9
47.2
14.12.3
13.3 16.9 15.9
0.3
11.37.3
**
62.3
2.0 4.0**
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Intimate partnerproblem
Other relationshipproblem
Suicide of family /friend
Physical healthproblem
Job problem Financial problem School problem
Perc
ent
Circumstance
Teen (15-19) Adult (20-64) Older Adult (65+)
Figure 6: Percentage of Reported Life Stressor Suicide Circumstances by Teen, Adult, and Older Adult Males, Utah, 2005-2009
42.3
**
7.7
**
3.817.6
4.6
21.3
8.4**
20.025.0
55.0
** **
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Other relationship problem Death of family / friend Physical health problem Job problem School problem
Perc
ent
Circumstance
Teen (15-19) Adult (20-64) Older Adult (65+)
Figure 7: Percentage of Reported Life Stressor Suicide Circumstances by Teen, Adult, and Older Adult Females, Utah, 2005-2009
(801) [email protected]
www.health.utah.gov/vipp
Our MissionWe are a trusted and comprehensive resource for data related to violence and injury. Through education, this information helps promote partnerships and programs to prevent injuries and improve public health.
Teen Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009
Prevention Tips• 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.
• Do not leave the person alone.
• Listen to and don’t judge anyone you think may be in trouble.
• Take action. Remove guns or pills to prevent a suicide attempt.
CostFor the years 2005-2007, the average total charges per year for ED visits and hospitalizations for
suicide attempts among Utah teens ages 15-19 was $3.1 million.1
Resources• 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
References1 Utah’s Indicator Based Information System for Public Health (IBIS-PH), 2005-2009 data [cited 2011 Apr]
2 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Youth online) [ONLINE]. (2009) National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC (producer). [cited 2011 Apr]
3 CDC, Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), 2007 data [cited 2011 Mar]
4 Violence and Injury Prevention Program, 2005-2009 Utah Violent Death Reporting System, Utah Department of Health
Last updated: November 2011
If your life has been affected by suicide, the Utah Department of Health wants to hear from you. Share your story with the Utah Health Story Bank at www.health.utah.gov/bhp/sb/.