WA Suicide Facts On average day in WA, there are: 3 suicides. 9 hospitalizations for a suicide attempt. Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death. In 2013, suicide rates were 11% higher than the U.S. rate. Suicides increased from 2006 – 2013. To set the context in Washington, courtesy of WA State Department of Health… Washington State Department of Health

Suicide Rates By County of Residence, 2009-2013 Clallam Rate=22 Jefferson Rate=13 Grays Harbor Rate=18 Pacific Rate=24 Whatcom Rate=14 Skagit Rate=16 Snohomish King Rate=12 Pierce Lewis Rate=15 Mason Rate=17 Cowlitz Thurston Clark Skamania Rate=37 Klickitat Yakima Kittitas Chelan Douglas Grant Okanogan Rate=21 Ferry Stevens Rate=25 Pend Oreille Spokane Lincoln Adams Whitman Franklin Benton Walla Walla Columbia Garfield Asotin Wahkiakum San Juan Kitsap Island Rate=17 This slide looks suicide rates by county, using 5 years of data combined. King County had the lowest suicide rates during 2009-2013, which was significantly lower than the state rate. Clallam, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania and Stevens had the highest suicide rates. These rates were significantly higher than the state rate. Even with 5 years of data, there are nine counties had fewer than 20 suicides, and so these aren’t included because the rates can fluctuate widely with so few deaths. These maps are all by which county was where the person lived. Significantly lower than state No rate – fewer than 20 deaths Lower than state rate Higher than state rate Significantly higher than state Source: Washington State Department of Health, Death Certificates Washington State Department of Health

Very proactive in state legislative space… 2012 Matt Adler Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management Act of 2012: Requires Mental Health Professionals to have Training in Suicide Assessment, Management and Treatment

1336: Suicide Prevention Readiness in Schools (2013)

2014. Suicide is everybody’s problem. These laws move us in the direction of training large numbers of individuals who are in key positions to help individuals who are at risk for suicide. Some will use the skills; some will not. Will spurs system level changes. Brings suicide out of the shadows. WA first state in the country to take this approach. 2315: Requires licensed health professionals to have training in suicide prevention (2014)

Youth Suicide Prevention Plan: WA State Department of Health Washington State is in the process of developing a new state suicide prevention plan across the lifespan Youth Suicide Prevention Plan: WA State Department of Health

Bursts of Activity and Innovation Grantee Program Name Funder Confederated Tribes/ Colville Reservation CCT Suicide Prevention Program SAMHSA Northwest Indian College Witness Our Future University of Washington Husky Help and Hope (HHH) Washington State Department of Health Suicide Prevention Works! Western Washington University Western Washington University Campus Suicide Prevention Program National Violence Data Reporting System CDC

Mental illness is the number one risk factor for suicide. 90% of individuals who die by suicide experience mental illness. Substance abuse  can  exacerbate suicidal thoughts More than one in three people who die from suicide are found to be intoxicated

WA, ID, MT are among the states with the highest prevalence of mental illness and lowest levels of access to care Psychiatric bed shortage; ill-funded treatment system across the continuum of care especially, in rural areas Access to treatment is insufficient especially in more rural parts of WA. Front-line providers– primary care, law enforcement, fire depts are key. Spending on mental health isn’t everything. Levels of hopeless, stigma around help-seeking, access to firearms, isolation also contribute to suicide rates… More we can be doing to increase protective factors and to reduce risk factors in rural communities. Parity of Disparity: The State of Mental Health Care in America 2014 Mental Health America

Leading Causes of Death among 15-24 Year Olds (2013) Number Rate 1-Accidents 11,619 26.4 2-Suicide 4878 11.1 3-Homicide 4329 9.8 Age Number Rate 10-14 years 386 1.9 15-19 years 1748 8.3 20-24 years 3130 13.7

Academic and Other Pressures on Teens are Enormous and Growing Increasing Access to Alcohol and Drugs

Comprehensive approach to suicide prevention in schools Suicide prevention is an administrator priority Crisis plan that address suicide prevention and postvention MOUs with community-based mental health providers Basic awareness and how to help--teachers Identification and referral training—counselors, school psychologists Basic awareness and how to help-- parents Screening Strong social and emotional health curriculum encompasses emotional regulation skill development *State requirements of 1336

Social and Emotional Health Counts On-board comprehensive approach to suicide prevention in 6-8 high schools during 2015-2017 This needs to happen statewide– big emphasis in WA State’s plan for suicide prevention

Rate, Number and Ranking of Suicide by State, 2013 Rank State Region Deaths Rate 1 Montana West 243 23.9 2 Alaska West 171 23.3 3 Wyoming West 129 22.1 4 New Mexico West 431 20.7 5 Utah West 579 20.0 6 Nevada West 541 19.4 7 Colorado West 1,007 19.1 7 Idaho West 308 19.1 9 Maine NE 245 18.4 10 Vermont NE 112 17.9 11 Oregon West 698 17.8 . 24 Washington West 1,027 14.7 *We need a greater regional focus on suicide prevention in the western Region of the U.S.