COVID-19 might be taking up most of the headlines, but for some time another health crisis has been brewing at both the county level and elsewhere: higher than average suicide rates for the State of Wisconsin. And while it goes without saying that suicide is a tragedy regardless of who or how many are affected by it, numbers point to a need for increased county resources and public awareness to meet this threat to life and humanity. First the numbers.

With Wisconsin ranking 18th out of 50 for state-wide suicide ratings in 2020 at the site smercashealthrankings.org, connected with the United Health Foundation, Listed alongside the Midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan, Wisconsin ranked the second highest for deaths by suicide between 2013 and 2017, with an age adjusted suicide rate of 14.4 per 100,000 in population, based on resident death certificates. A still more specific breakdown of the numbers is also contained in a report put out by Wisconsin Data and the Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Plan, as follows.

Beginning with a four year period from 2013-2017, the majority of suicide deaths was overwhelmingly male, with 78 percent of suicide deaths pertaining to males, with females comprising 22 percent of suicide deaths. At the same time, the majority of hospitalizations with regard to self-harm between 2016-2017 were of females, with a hospitalization figure of 62 percent to 38 percent for males. The majority of emergency room visits with self-harm between 2016-2017 was only slightly different, with 63 for females and 37 percent for males. From gender we go to age, where the highest death rate is among 45 to 54-year-olds.

Beginning with ages 10 to 14, there were 2.7 suicide deaths per 100,000 population for males and 1.1 percent for females, while for 15 to 17-year-olds the rate was 13.9 per 100,000 for males and 7.5 per 100,000 for females. Moving to the late teens and early twenties, meanwhile, the figure was 26.5 per 100,000 for males and 6.6 for females.

Moving to the mid-twenties and early thirties, the rate of suicide deaths was 30.2 per 100,000 for males and 8.5 for females. From 45 to 54 the rate spiked to reach 34.6 per 100,000 for males and 10.2 per 100,000 for females. From ages 55-64, the rate was 29.6 per 100,000 for males and 9.0 for females.

Closing out the age comparison data, there were 24.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 for males aged 65-74, while females of the same age group registered just 5.7 suicide deaths per 100,000. For those 75 or older, the rate was 31.0 for males and 2.9 for females. One reason that males experience more suicide deaths is the choice of means, with firearms among the top for those dying by suicide.

Regarding self-harm meanwhile, more females than males were hospitalized for selfharm injuries between 2016-2017, with the rate especially high for girls aged 15 through 17 and 18 to 24 respectively. For those females aged 15 to 17 years-old, the rate was 348.4 per 100,000 with 204.9 per 100,000 for those women aged 18 thru 24 years old. For males, the rate for selfharm hospitalization among 15 to 17 years old was 105.5 per 100,000, while for those males aged 18 to 24 the rate was 125 per 100,000. While the above numbers were the highest for each gender, the rate for self-harm hospitalizations among females continued to be higher throughout, to age 75-plus and beyond.

In terms of emergency department visits with self-harm injuries, girls aged 15 to 17 had a rate of 490.9 per 100,000 compared to 146.2 per 100,000 for boys of the same age. For females aged 18 to 24, the rate for emergency room visits with self-harm was 215.3 per 100,000, while for males the rate for those of the same age group was 133.6 per 100,000.

Shifting from gender to race, the rate of suicide was higher among whites (15.3 per 100,000) and American Indian/Alaska Natives (14.7 per 100,000) than it was among those identified as Black (5.2 per 100,000) or Asian (5.9 per 100,000). Among those hospitalized or with emergency department visits for self-harm from 2016-2017, rates were highest among American Indian/Alaska Natives along with Blacks. The suicide rate was also higher among non-Hispanics (14.9 per 100,000) than Hispanics (5.7 per 100,000). Similarly, the hospitalization and emergency department visit rates for self-harm injuries were also higher among non-Hispanics than Hispanics.

Regarding education level, those with a high school diploma were most likely to die by suicide at 26.2 per 100,000 than those with some college or an associate’s degree (16.2 per 100,000) or less than a high school diploma (20.4 per 100,000). For those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the rate was 12.5 per 100,000 for suicide deaths, based on resident death certificates.

Regarding veterans, the percent of all suicide deaths increased with age, with those between ages 18 to 24 experiencing six percent of suicide deaths while for those veterans 85 and older the rate was 72 percent of all suicide deaths. Those veterans who died by suicide were more likely to have a reported physical health problem than non-veterans, with 42 percent of veteran compared to 21 percent of non-veterans reported as such.

For mental health and a history of suicide attempts on the other hand, non-veterans were more likely to have a reported mental health issue or history of attempting suicide, with 53 percent of non-veterans experiencing a mental health problem compared to 43 percent of veterans, and 25 percent of non-veterans who died by suicide to have a history of suicide attempts compared to f14 percent for veterans. As to PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, veterans who died by suicide were considerably more likely to have reported as much, with 11 percent of veterans to one percent of non-veterans who died by suicide suffering from PTSD. More statistics including those related to youth and issues of gender identity as well as sexuality (LGBT) among those who die by suicide are available at the State department of Health website at dhs.wisconsin.gov. So if these are the overall numbers, what’s a solution, or part of it?

The first is that there is help. If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts you can call either 1-800-784-2433 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) along with visiting resources such as www.suicide.org for help to overcome or more information for those seeking to help others. If you know someone in immediate danger of suicide, 911 is the best answer. But what else is there to know of immediate helping value?

The first is to understand that suicide comes about in stages. Some think about suicide but only as a passing thought. Others think about and then start to make a plan. If a suicide plan is made, those with access to lethal means are in greater danger than those without. If a person moves from thinking about, to planning, to acquiring the means for suicide, then the last two stages are an actual attempt and/or death. Suicide is often a highly impulsive act, and those who die by suicide may make a different choice if they can get through the crisis. Only a small percentage of those who think about suicide will ever progress to a plan or further, but this is little comfort to those affected or left behind. Educating yourself on the warning signs and how to react is important as well. It might be counterintuitive, but it isn’t necessarily a bad idea to ask someone if they have contemplated suicide if the signs are present. One belief that contributes to death by suicide is the feeling that nobody loves or cares for them. This is where support and acceptance become crucial from others around a person at risk for dying by suicide.

A second thing to be aware of in general is the use of language. The words that are used to describe something can have an effect on outcomes. Language such as “commit suicide” implies a crime and stigmatizes the person. While cultural stigma against suicide can contribute to lower rates of suicide, those who die by suicide are often not thinking straight and under immense psychological pressure. This does not make them (or you) weak. Instead, it means the person needs to be shown compassion and true caring, thereby avoiding the worst and showing that people do care.

Other language to be avoided (opposite in parentheses) includes “chose to kill him/her/ themself” (Killed him/her/themself or died by suicide), “successful or completed suicide” or “suicided” (suicide death), failed or unsuccessful suicide attempt (suicide attempt), “threatened suicide” (disclosed suicidal thoughts), “manipulative or attention-seeking behavior” or “suicidal gestures” (describe behavior in neutral terms according to what it looks like), “is bipolar” (has bipolar disorder or other mental health condition). The reasons for use of changed language are many, but at the heart is a common goal: reducing the suicide rate in Wisconsin and elsewhere by showing that people like you and I care.