Montana Suicide Rates Vary by Gender
By · CommentsMontana is consistent with the rest of the U.S. in that suicide deaths vary by gender with males at greater risk than females. Montana females are five times more likely than males to attempt suicide. More females choose reversible means such as poison; more males choose irreversible means such as firearms.
Source: State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan: http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
Intermountain West Suicide Rates
By · CommentsThe intermountain western states have the highest rates of suicide as a region and Montana ranks persistently at the top of the rate chart annually.
Unfortunately, Montana has ranked among the top 5 states with the highest rates of suicide for the past 20 years, along with other mountain states. For a number of years,
Montana has been number two on the yearly charts second only to Nevada.
Source: State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan at http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
Montana Suicide Rates Vary Widely by Age
By · CommentsSuicide rates in Montana vary widely by age. When all ages are combined, suicide is ranked the 9th leading cause of deaths for Montanans for more than two decades. However, when those rankings are examined by age group the risk of suicide varies considerably.
Death by suicide is significant cause of mortality among youth and young adults in Montana. It is the leading cause of preventable death for the ages 10 to 14 and the second leading cause of death for the ages 15 to 24 and 25 to 34.1
Compared nationally, Montana’s rate of suicide from 1999 – 2003 for 15 – 24 year olds was 17.68 per 100,000 while nationally is was to 10.01 per 100,000.
Interesting fact: There is a correlation between smoking and suicidal behavior in people of all ages.
The Journal of Adolescent Medicine (2004) reported that teenagers who smoke had a rate of suicide attempts four times higher than teens who do not.
Source: State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan: http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
Lethal Means
By · CommentsA number of means are used in the act of suicide in Montana. Of these, firearms (66%) and hanging (13%) are the most common. Other lethal means include: carbon monoxide (7%), overdose (10%), motor vehicle crashes, jumping from heights, etc.
Source: http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
If you are contemplating any of these means, or know someone who is, call for help immediately. If you feel that someone (including yourself) is in immediate danger go to your local hospital’s Emergency Room NOW.
If less urgent then call your local Help Center, Suicide Line or check out http://211.org/, enter your zip code and see what resources they may have to offer in your community.
Montana Suicide Rates Vary by Race
By · CommentsSuicide in Montana also varies, to some degree, by race. The small population of American Indian residents in Montana results in highly variable rates by year. A small increase in the actual numbers of deaths can have, what appears to be, a catastrophic impact on the rate for that year. Taking into account this rate variability due to small populations, the difference in rates between American Indians and Caucasians in Montana is minimal when considered over time.
Source: State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan: http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
Suicide Rates Remain Highest Among White Men Over 65
By · CommentsSuicide rates among adolescents and youth in some areas of the nation have increased dramatically. At the other end of the age spectrum, suicide rates remain the highest among white males over the age of 65. Differences are also occurring in some racial groups with the rates of suicide among young African American males showing significant increases.
Source: State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan at http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
Suicide Rates Show More Colorado Farmers Losing Hope
By · Comments“The phone calls usually come in the evening after the machinery goes silent on farms across the country. The callers speak of dwindling cash flows, crumbling marriages. Some admit they’re holding a loaded gun. ”
“Across a wide swath of rural America, increasing numbers of farmers are considering taking their lives. ”
“The nation’s largest network of crisis hotlines for agricultural workers reports a spike of 2,000 calls through May compared with the same period last year — a 20 percent increase. ”
Read more at The Denver Post site at http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12506134
“No one is sure why Alaska’s suicide rate has risen for four straight years and is the nation’s highest. Alaska can round up the usual suspects — alcohol and drug abuse, hopelessness, isolation, poverty, wretched family lives, lack of opportunity, sexual abuse, biological factors, culture, history, racism — but we still won’t have all the answers. We do have some answers, however. And as Susan Soule, mental health consultant and former director of the state’s suicide prevention program, points out, we know the important questions.”
“Soule quoted the late Edwin Schneidman, the father of suicide prevention, who said the work boiled down to two questions:
‘Where do you hurt? How may I help you?’ ”
Getting Out and Getting Involved – Special Olympics
By · Comments
When I heard that Bozeman, Montana was hosting the state Special Olympics 2009 – 2011, I called Vicki Dunham, COO of the Special Olympics Montana (http://www.somt.org), to see if including Intermountain Therapy Animal teams (www.therapyanimals.org) might be a good collaboration. Although my dog and I have only been involved for a year and a half the opportunities for us to get out and volunteer as a team have been delightful. I felt strongly that other teams would feel the same, and they did. The ITA volunteers were delighted to learn that we had been invited and 18 teams quickly signed up for six 2-hour sessions.
What a magical experience to share our Registered Therapy Animals with this group of athletes, coaches and volunteers. All 18 dogs responded well to the love and attention they received from the many athletes, coaches and other volunteers. We had the privilege of meeting so many people who, each in their own way added to the wonderment of the Special Olympics.
The experience worked so well that ITA has been invited to participate in future Special Olympic events in Montana.
On a personal note, it is so helpful for me to be able to get out with Hunka and to bring joy to other people. As someone who lives with depression anything I can do to “get out of myself” is a bonus.
Pictured from left to right are Vicki Dunham, COO Special Olympics Montana, Carlye & Ginger, Alicia & Hunka, Jena & Lucy Liu.
Suicides Go Up When Economy Heads South
By · Comments“Do suicides go up when the economy heads south? Yes, say experts. ‘We ordinarily experience much, much higher rates of suicide during times of recession,’ says M. Harvey Brenner, professor of public health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.”
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 32,000 people kill themselves each year. The government doesn’t keep statistics in “real time,” so it’s hard to tell whether the suicide rate is spiking right now. However, Brenner has crunched the numbers and thinks as many as 1,200 more suicides could happen as a result of the current recession.“
Read more at CNN’s site: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/14/suicide.economy/index.html
