SUICIDES INCREASE 20% COUNTYWIDE

Source: County News Service

September 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Suicides are up 20% in San Diego County.  That’s one of the startling findings in the San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council’s Report to the Community.  The suicide rate steadily increased from 2008 to 2013. Last year, 14 suicides occurred for every 100,000 residents in San Diego County. That rate is also  20 percent higher than the average for the entire state of California.

Supervisor Ron Roberts says that  suicide continues to be a major health concern in San Diego County.  He adds, “Suicide affects all of us. It is critical that we continue to educate people about the warning signs and, most importantly, how to reach out for help.”

The report, released during National Suicide Prevention Week , also found that:

·         The total number of suicides rose from 366 to 441 a year.

·         Emergency department discharges due to attempted suicides and calls to the County’s Crisis Line also jumped sharply.  Visits to Visits to the It’s Up to Us website at uptoSD.org, the County’s suicide prevention website, nearly doubled over the past three years.

• Students who seriously considered suicide has also risen to 20% in 2012, the last year for which this data is available.
• Nearly 6,400 people have participated in suicide prevention trainings

To help curb suicide in San Diego, the County has several ongoing prevention efforts, including the It’s Up to Us campaign, the Question, Persuade and Refer trainings and the Access and Crisis Line,  a confidential counseling and referral hotline for people who feel overwhelmed or are experiencing a mental health crisis.

Nick Macchione, director of the County Health and Human Services Agency, says that the increase in crisis calls and visits to the It’s Up to Us site are actually good news. He adds, “It means people are reaching out for help and educating themselves about how to prevent suicide.”

Suicide can happen to anyone.  That is why it is important to learn the warning signs, risk factors and behavioral cues of people considering ending their lives.

Some warning signs of suicide include:

• Talking of hurting or killing oneself
• Divorce, separation, stress on family
• Loss of health
• Loss of job, home, personal security
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• Isolation from family and friends
• Daring or risk-taking behavior

If someone you know is showing warning signs of suicide, experts say that you should take the threat seriously. Don’t leave the person alone, listen to them, and get professional help immediately.

Since the Question, Persuade and Refer trainings began, about 7,000 people have been taught to identify the warning signs of suicide and how to encourage people to get the help they need.

For more information about suicide including risk factors, warning signs, how to get help, resources and training available, visit up2SD.org or call the County’s Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240.