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) [email protected]
• 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: [email protected]