“Saving lives in TN” · TPHA Annual Conference September 14, 2012 Scott Ridgway, MS Executive Director, TSPN Suicide in Tennessee by the Numbers 932 reported suicide deaths in

09/14/2012

Tennessee Public Health Association_2012 1

“Saving lives in TN”

TPHA Annual ConferenceSeptember 14, 2012Scott Ridgway, MSExecutive Director, TSPN

Suicide in Tennessee by the Numbers

932 reported suicide deaths in 2010

Suicide rate at 14.7 per 100,000—down slightly but elevated

National suicide rate for 2009: 12.0 per 100,000

In 2009, Tennessee’s suicide rate ranked 14th

in the nation

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38 confirmed suicide deaths in 2010 within 10‐19 age group (rate at 4.4 per 100,000)

Between 2004‐08, suicide rate dropped by 32% (from 45 to 31)

Between 2009‐10, rate dropped by 17% (from 44 to 38)

Increase in suicides appears driven by adults, mostly middle‐aged males


Adults over age 65 experience higher suicide rates (nationally 14.8 per 100,000 in 2009)

White men over age 85 have highest rate of all (45.6 per 100,000 in 2007)

75% of all suicide victims over 75 have seen a primary care physician within a months of their death… 35% within the week… 20% within 24 hours…

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Suicide and the Armed Forces Suicide is the 2nd most common cause of death in the U.S.

military ‐ accounts for 20% of suicides each year

Overall suicide rate across the Army is up more than 24% since 2009

Suicide rates amongst active duty military and veterans have risen over the past 4 years (JAMA, 2009)

Suicides doubled in 2010 among army reservists and national guardsmen

Air Force: approx first 15 days of 2012 – 9 suicides

Active duty troops: 154 suicides in first 155 days of 2012

TSPN maintains close ties to Fort Campbell’s suicide prevention program

Suicide by the Numbers

Source: TDOH, 2010; CDC, 2010

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Tennessee856 (14.2)

866 (14.4)

833 (13.7)

965 (15.7)

939 (15.1)

932 (14.7)

U.S.32,637 (11.0)

33,300 (11.2)

34,598 (11.5)

36,035(11.8)

36,909 (12.0)

N/A

COUNTY20052006200720082009

Bledsoe1 (7.8)0 (N/A)3 (22.9)0 (N/A)1 (7.5)

Bradley8 (8.6)7 (7 5)

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Suicide by the Numbers,Tennessee, 2010

Source: TDOH, 2011

FIREARM (581 DEATHS, 62%)

SUFFOCATION (176 DEATHS, 19%)

POISONING (126 DEATHS, 14%)

DROWNING (12 DEATHS, 1%)

JUMPING/FALLING (12 DEATHS, 1%)

OTHER (19 DEATHS, 2%)

Silent Epidemic

36,909 deaths in U.S. in 2009 (compared to 36,216 deaths in auto accidents that year)*

Average of 101.1 per day

1 person every 14.2 minutes

1 person over the age of 65 every 90 minutes

1 person between ages 10‐24 every 114 minutes

*CDC, 2012

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2011 Tennessee Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Students who reported... 2009 2011

Feeling sad or hopeless 27.6% 25.9%

Considering suicide 13.6% 14.7%

Making a suicide plan 11.7% 11.1%

Making a suicide attempt 7.1% 6.2%

Requiring medical attention

for injuries resulting from a

suicide attempt

2.2% 2.2%

Bullying & Suicide

77% students self‐reported being victims of bullying (verbal most common)

Bully victims are 2‐9x more likely to consider suicide (Yale University)

Bully‐related suicide can be connected to any type of bullying (physical, emotional, cyber, sexting)

Victims: more depressive symptoms, higher levels of suicidal ideation, more likely to attempt suicide

160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying (ABC news)

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Did You Know? One police officer completes a suicide every 24 hours

6,000 veterans die by suicide each year (thought to be a low estimate)

Second‐leading cause of death among young adults 25‐34 years old

Third‐leading cause of death among youth 15‐24 years old

White males over 65 are at the greatest risk of all demographic groups

Males complete suicide at a rate of four times more than females and use more lethal means. Females attempt suicide more than males and use illicit or prescription drugs to overdose.

TSPN Historical Overview

1996 – SPAN‐USA Created

1998 – Reno Conference ‐ Tullis attends

1999 – Surgeon General’s Call to Action

Tullis convened a statewide expert panel –“Connect TN”

Statewide Conference presenting TN Response

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TSPN Historical Overview

2000 –Full‐time Director funded by TDMH

Regional chairs designated

2001 – Governor appoints Suicide Prevention Advisory Council

Interdepartmental Group formed

TSPN Structural Overview

Governor’s Office

Advisory Council

Regional Councils

Intra‐State Departmental Group

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TSPN: A Public/Private Partnership

ParticipantsSurvivors and attempters

Mental health and public health professionals

Existing suicide prevention groups (i.e., AFSP, AAS, Jason Foundation, SPRC, Yellow Ribbon)

Clergy

Journalists

State officials

TSPN’s Advisory Council

Gubernatorially appointed, but independent and nonpartisan

Review and evaluation TSPN activities and objectives

Advocate for public policy change on the statewide level

Preside over eight regional networks

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TSPN’s Regional Networks

Implement TSPN objectives on the local level

Organize regional awareness and educational events

Provide assistance in local postvention efforts

Promote public policy change locally and statewide

Local support for statewide TSPN projects

Intra‐State Departmental Groups

Members of state departments and agencies

Advise TSPN on an ex‐officio basis

Promote TSPN evens and public policy shifts within their departments

Implement TSPN activities within their departments

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TSPN’s Outcomes

Continued state support and funding

Regular reports and conferences

Press releases, letters to newspapers, PSAs

Representation in statewide advocacy events

Annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Month projects

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Observed every September

Statewide and local awareness events

Statewide and local proclamation project

Awareness walks

Exhibits at local conferences and fairs

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TSPN’s Publications

Brochures: Survivors of Suicide groups

Older adults

Youth

Midlife

Veterans

Bullying and suicide

Substance abuse and suicide

GLBT

African‐Americans

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TSPN’s Publications

Church bulletin inserts

Regional resource directories

TSPN Call to Action

State of Suicide in Tennessee 2010

TSPN’s Outreach

Suicide postvention and debriefiting

Veterans outreach through NAMI, TDMH, Fort Campbell, Vas)

Law enforcement (i.e., CIT)

Tennessee Laywers Assistance Program

African‐American church conferences (Memphis and Nashville)

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Resources

TSPN website: www.tspn.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

1‐800‐273‐TALK (8255)

Survivors of Suicide groups listed at http://tspn.org/for‐survivors‐of‐suicide

Questions??

“Saving lives in TN” · TPHA Annual Conference September 14, 2012 Scott Ridgway, MS Executive Director, TSPN Suicide in Tennessee by the Numbers 932 reported suicide deaths in

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