New 蜜柚视频 study profiles the changing face of suicide within the state
Where does suicide live in Ohio? How old is it? What does it look like?
According to a released by (The Alliance), its identity is increasingly comprised of individuals both young and old, with suicide rates rising more than 36 percent for those ages 20 to 29 and approximately 57 percent for those aged 60 or older in the last 10 years.
The data also revealed a troubling reality unfolding across Appalachian Ohio, which is home to nine of Ohio鈥檚 10 counties with the highest suicide rates per 100,000 population over the past 10 years. Meigs County experienced the highest suicide rate in the state at 21.5 followed by Jackson County (19.9) and Hocking County (19.7).
Such trends are disturbing to mental health organizations across Ohio, including the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
鈥淭he data in this report is very relevant to the work of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services,鈥 said Lori Criss, director of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. 鈥淪uicide is a serious public health issue. Tackling this issue in Ohio will require collaborative efforts that cross state government, private partners, community mental health and addiction boards and providers, colleges and universities and others.鈥
The Alliance 鈥 a collaborative effort created by 蜜柚视频鈥檚 College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP) and the and now including 28 partner organizations鈥 recently completed a review of suicide fatalities in Ohio based on data provided by key state partners between January 2008 and December 2017.
Rick Hodges, director of The Alliance, said that 526,501 years of life expectancy was lost in Ohio between 2008-2017 due to suicide. He noted that this sobering figure is largely attributed to the increase in suicide rates of individuals 29 years of age and younger.
鈥淭he Alliance鈥檚 research indicates that the suicide rate within our state鈥檚 younger population (29 and younger) has increased by 33 percent since 2008,鈥 Hodges said. 鈥淥ur ultimate hope is that this study will help to inform state- and community-level discussions surrounding how the risk of suicide can be reduced in Ohio and beyond.鈥
Hodges also referenced that calculated more than 500,000 years of life were lost in Ohio between 2010 and 2016 due to opioid overdose.
Orman Hall, executive in residence for CHSP and author of the study, said that The Alliance鈥檚 research revealed a total of 15,246 suicide fatalities in Ohio between 2008-17, an overall increase of approximately 24 percent per 100,000. White individuals who reside in economically distressed Appalachian communities continue to exhibit the highest suicide rate in Ohio.
Hall emphasized that the intent of The Alliance鈥檚 study was not to serve as an exhaustive study of cause and effect, but rather to analyze the scope of suicide fatalities and to identify key demographic characteristics of decedents for this serious and growing problem.
Although the highest suicide rates were experienced in Ohio鈥檚 Appalachian region during the 10-year period that was studied, it is important to note that both rural and suburban areas experienced the greatest increase in the rate of suicides per 100,000 population. Cuyahoga (1,461) and Franklin (1,408) counties were home to the highest total number of suicide fatalities in the study.
Tony Coder, director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), reported that OSPF trains as many community members and healthcare providers as they possibly can across the state. He said collaborative partnerships with various agencies are in effect or are being built to create a state suicide strategy with the goal of reducing suicide attempts and death.
蜜柚视频 College of Health Sciences and Professions Dean Randy Leite shared that the University is doing its part to train the nation鈥檚 next generation of mental health professionals.
鈥淐linicians often encounter mental health clients experiencing crisis; such distress can increase a person鈥檚 risk of suicide,鈥 Leite said. 鈥淥ur college is dedicated to educating the best healthcare professionals in the country and doing everything within our power to help alleviate this serious and growing problem. It is time we recognize suicide as the serious public health issue it is and do all we can to prepare future health and human service professionals to respond to those who may be at risk.鈥
Area and state officials have taken notice of the University鈥檚 training and outreach efforts.
鈥淲e cannot thank 蜜柚视频 and The Alliance enough for taking the time and resources to produce such a stellar report,鈥 Coder said. 鈥淚t brings a lot of concern about the rise in suicides over the decade, and it points that the state of Ohio needs to put resources and efforts into solving this public health crisis.鈥
Joan Englund, executive director of the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy Coalition, said that The Alliance鈥檚 most recent study shines an important light on a growing need for suicide treatment and prevention services.
鈥淟ocal, state, and federal decisions and actions can reduce the growing number of O