Suicide Report 2020

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Violence & Injury Prevention Program

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An average of 621 Utahns die by suicide each year1 and the rate of suicide among Utahns ages 10+ has been increasing since 2007. 1,2

Overall, Utah males (37.0 per 100,000 population) had a significantly higher suicide rate compared to Utah females (12.0 per 100,000 population).1

Utah adults aged 25-64 had the highest rate of suicide (29.5 per 100,000 population).1

Use of a firearm (50.5%) was the most common method of suicide death in Utah followed by suffocation (25.4%) and poisoning (19.1%).1

Risk factors such as alcohol and drug abuse, diagnosable mental health disorders, and easy access to lethal methods, such as firearms or pills, may put a person at increased risk for suicide. 5

25-64 Years

Suicide Report2020

Suicide Report 2020

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Utah TrendsThe 2018 Utah suicide rate was 25.1 per 100,000 population ages 10+. It is the 2nd leading cause of injury death in Utah.1 The rate of suicide among Utahns ages 10+ has been increasing since 2007 (Figure 1).1,2

Utah and U.S.The Utah suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national rate for more than a decade (Figure 1). Utah had the 6th highest suicide rate (25.1) in the U.S. between 2014 and 2017 for those ages 10 years and older.3

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Figure 1: Age-adjusted Rate of Suicides and Self-inflicted Injuries per 100,000 Population by Death and Injuries, Utah, 2000-2018

Age and SexOverall, Utah males (37.0 per 100,000 population) had a significantly higher suicide rate compared to Utah females (12.0 per 100,000 population). Utah males had significantly higher rates of suicide compared to Utah females in every age group (Figure 2).1

Figure 2: Rate of Suicides per 100,000 Population by Age Group and Sex, Utah, 2014-2018

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Age-

adju

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Rat

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r 100

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Utah U.S.

13.7

38.2

43.2

38.0

4.9

9.1

15.6

7.3

0

10

20

30

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Youth (10-17) Young Adult (18-24) Adult (25-64) Older Adult (65+)

Rate

per

100

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pop

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ages

10+

Age

Male Female

Suicide Report 2020

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Method of InjuryFirearm was the most common method of suicide death for Utahns, followed by suffocation and poisoning (Figure 3).1

Location of InjuryThe following Utah small areas had significantly higher suicide rates compared to the rest of the state.

Highest Suicide Rates Ages 10+1

Duchesne County, Downtown Salt Lake City, Downtown Ogden, Kearns, Central Utah Local Health Department, Emery County

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Figure 3: Percent of Suicides by Methods of Injury, Ages 10+, Utah, 2014-2018

Protective Factors 5Protective factors are conditions or attributes in an individual, family, or community that increase the health and well-being of children and families. Protective factors may reduce suicide risk by helping people cope with negative life events, even when those events continue over a period of time. The ability to cope or solve problems reduces the chance that a person will become overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, or suicidal. Protective factors for suicide include:

• Receiving effective mental health care or substance use disorder treatment• Positive connections to family, peers, community, and social institutions that foster resilience• Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide, such as firearms or pills• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation

Risk Factors 5Suicide is a complex behavior and generally cannot be attributed to a single cause or event. People who die by suicide are frequently experiencing undiagnosed, undertreated, or untreated mental illness. Suicide is also often preceded by a lifetime history of traumatic events. Several other factors that may put a person at increased risk for suicide include:

• Alcohol or drug abuse• Diagnosable mental health disorder• Easy access to lethal methods, such as firearms or pills• Family history of suicide or violence• Lack of social support• Loss of a family member or friend, especially by suicide• Physical health problems like chronic pain or traumatic brain injury• Relationship or school problems• Stressful life event or loss

Firearm50.4%

Suffocation25.4%

Poisoning19.1%

Fall1.2%

Cut/Pierce1.0%

Other*2.9%

*Includes Drowning/Submersion, Fire/Flame/Smoke, Hot Object/Substance, Caustic Substance, Machinery, Motor Vehicle, Traffic - Occupant Injured, Motor Vehicle, Traffic - Motorcyclist Injured, Motor Vehicle, Traffic - Pedal Cyclist Injured, Motor Vehicle, Traffic - Pedestrian Injured, Motor Vehicle, Traffic - Other and Unspecified, Pedal Cyclist - MV Non-Traffic and Other, Pedestrian - MV Non-Traffic and Other, Oth. Motor Vehicle - Non-Traffic (Not Pedal, Pedestrian), Other Land Transport - Non-Traffic, Not MV, Other Transport (Air, Space, Water, etc.), Natural / Environmental, Overexertion, Struck By or Against, Other Specified and Unspecified

Suicide Report 2020

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34.0%29.6% 29.4% 28.6%

18.5% 18.5%

57.0%

26.1% 28.5%25.3%

31.6%

15.6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Current mentalillness treatment

Depressed Mood Suicide note left Disclosed intent toattempt suicide

History of suicideattempts

Alcohol problem

Perc

ent

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Circumstances

Males Females

69.1%

32.4%

24.9%

11.1% 11.0%7.5%

66.3%

28.5%

36.2%

6.4% 5.8% 4.0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Crisis (2 wks) Intimate PartnerProblem

Physical HealthProblem

Job Problem Criminal Problem Financial Problem

Perc

ent

Relationship and Life Stressors

Males Females

Suicide Death Circumstances4The top six relationship and life stressors for males and females were crisis within two weeks of their death, intimate partner problems, physical health problems, job problems, criminal problems, and financial problems. (Figure 4). Likewise, the top six mental health and substance use circumstances for males and females were current mental illness treatment, depressed mood, leaving a suicide note, disclosing intent to attempt suicide, history of suicide attempt, and alcohol problems (Figure 5). Data definitions for these variables can be found on page 5.

Figure 4: Percent of Reported Relationship and Life Stressors by Sex, Ages 10+, Utah, 2014-2017

Figure 5: Percent of Reported Mental Health and Substance Abuse Circumstances by Sex, Ages 10+, Utah, 2014-2017

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Suicide Report 2020

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Data CollectionThe Utah Violent Death Reporting System is a data collection and monitoring system that allows the Utah Department of Health to better understand suicide by informing decision makers about the magnitude, trends, and characteristics of death. Data collected, when available, include demographic information, location of injury and circumstance information such as school problem, relationship problem, or crisis events within two weeks of a death. Data are collected from multiple sources and are linked together to help identify risk and protective factors, understand circumstances, and better characterize deaths. For more information, visit www.health.utah.gov/vipp/topics/nvdrs/.

Data DefinitionsCrisis (2 wks) – A crisis is a current/acute event (within 2 weeks of death) that is indicated in one of the source reports to have contributed to the death. A crisis can precede the death or be an impending event. Crisis is interpreted from the eyes of the victim (e.g., a youth with a bad grade or a dispute with parents over a curfew).

Intimate Partner Problem – The victim was experiencing problems with a current or former intimate partner, such as a divorce, break-up, argument, jealousy, conflict, or discord, and this appears to have contributed to the death. An intimate partner is defined as a current or former girlfriend/boyfriend, dating partner, ongoing sexual partner, or spouse. It does not include instances of sex/intimacy in exchange for money/goods.

Physical Health Problem – Victim was experiencing physical health problem(s) (e.g., terminal disease, debilitating condition, chronic pain) that were relevant to the event.

Job Problem – Victim was either experiencing a problem at work (such as tensions with a co-worker, poor performance reviews, increased pressure, feared layoff) or was having problem with joblessness (e.g., recently laid off, having difficulty finding a job), and this appears to have contributed to the death.

Criminal Problem – Victim was facing criminal legal problems (recent or impending arrest, law enforcement pursuit, impending criminal court date, etc.), and this appears to have contributed to the death.

Financial Problem – Victim was experiencing a problem such as bankruptcy, overwhelming debt, or foreclosure of a home or business, and this appears to have contributed to the death.

Current Mental Illness Treatment – The victim was identified as currently receiving treatment for a mental illness. There does not need to be any indication that the mental health condition directly contributed to the death.

Depressed Mood – Victim was perceived by self or others to be depressed at the time of the death.

Suicide Note Left – Victim left a suicide note (or other recorded communication). Note can be written or electronic.

Disclosed Intent to Attempt Suicide – Victim disclosed to another person their thoughts and/or plans to die by suicide within the last month. Disclosure of suicidal thoughts or plan can be verbal, written, or electronic.

History of Suicide Attempts – Victim has a history of attempting suicide before the fatal incident.

Alcohol Problem – The victim was perceived by self or others to have a problem with, or to be addicted to, alcohol. There does not need to be any indication that the alcohol problem directly contributed to the death.

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Suicide Report 2020

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(801) 538-6864 I vipp@utah.gov www.health.utah.gov/vipp

Prevention Tips • Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text "help" to 741-741 for help. Suicide is never the answer. Help is available

24 hours a day 7 days a week. • Take any warning signs or threat of suicide seriously. • If you are seeing warning signs, ask the person directly if they are thinking about suicide. Asking does not

increase risk for a suicide attempt.• Do not leave the person alone. • Listen without judgment.• Remove firearms or pills to prevent a suicide attempt. • Find mental health and substance use disorder treatment services near you. Visit dsamh.utah.gov.• If the person has a weapon or is not responding to attempts to contact them, call 911 and request a Crisis

Intervention Team officer to do a welfare check.

Resources • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org • National Alliance on Mental Illness Utah Chapter www.namiut.org • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text "help" to 741-741 • SafeUT app healthcare.utah.edu/uni/programs/safe-ut-smartphone-app/ • Suicide Prevention Resource Center www.sprc.org • Utah Poison Control Center poisoncontrol.utah.edu 1-800-222-1222 • Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition www.utahsuicideprevention.org

References 1. Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health, 2014-2018 data queried via Utah’s Indicator

Based Information System for Public Health (IBIS-PH) [cited 2019 December]. IBIS Version 20182. Population Data: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau. Data queried via

Utah’s Indicator Based Information System for Public Health (IBIS-PH) [cited 2019 December]. IBIS Version 20183. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), 1999-2017 data [cited

2019 July].4. Utah Violent Death Reporting System, Violence & Injury Prevention Program, Utah Department of Health, 2014-2017 data [cited 2019 December].5. Help Guide. Suicide Prevention. Helpguide.org [cited 2019 July].

VIPP is a trusted and comprehensive resource for data and technical assistance related to violence and injury. This information helps promote partnerships and programs to prevent injuries and improve public health.

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