On February 7, Lane County Public Health (LCPH) published the report Suicide in Lane County 2000-2020 Updated Trends, Risk Factors, and Recommendations. This report provides statistics and information on local suicide deaths in order to raise awareness of how suicide impacts our communities, as well as make recommendations on how the public and professionals can play a role in suicide prevention.
“Suicide is a serious public health problem in Lane County,” said Roger Brubaker, LCPH suicide prevention coordinator. “The causes of this problem are complex; however, we can prevent suicide by promoting inclusion, compassion and safety for all populations, and by being aware of our local data.”
Some of the report’s findings include:
Between 2000 and 2020, the rate of suicide increased by 80 percent in Lane County.
Between 2000 and 2020, 1,458 people died by suicide in Lane County.
In 2020, the rate of suicide in Lane County was 65 percent greater than the U.S. average.
Overall, males died about 4 times as often as females and older adult males (≥65) had the greatest risk of suicide of any age group.
The rates of suicide in Junction City, Florence and Cottage Grove were about twice the county average.
One in four people who died by suicide was a veteran or military service member.
Most people died in their homes with a firearm they owned.
Half of the people who died during this time period had some history of a mental health problem.
In the U.S. generally, non-Hispanic white and Indigenous populations see the highest rates of suicide of any racial/ethnic population.
The Suicide Prevention program at LCPH works with people with lived experience of suicide and professionals in Lane County to increase awareness of suicide and the importance of mental wellness, encourage and support community action, and prepare people to respond during a crisis. More information can be found at preventionlane.org.
Original source can be found here.
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