1. 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

2. 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 , 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

3. 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

4. 1336: Suicide Prevention Readiness in Schools (2013)

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

16. Rate, Number and Ranking of Suicide by State, 2013
Rank State Region Deaths Rate
1 Montana West
Alaska West
Wyoming West
New Mexico West
Utah West
Nevada West
Colorado West ,
Idaho West
Maine NE
Vermont NE
Oregon West .
24 Washington West ,
*We need a greater regional focus on suicide prevention in the western Region of the U.S.