Idaho’s already dire suicide problem may be getting worse. According to the latest numbers from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the state had its worst rate of suicide deaths in 2018.
State-by-state numbers are yet to come out for 2018, but Idaho had the fifth-highest suicide rate in the nation in 2017 and those numbers have been steadily climbing for years.
In total, 418 people died by suicide in 2018, a rate of 23.8 per 100,000 people. The entire Mountain West has higher than average rates of suicide and many of Idaho’s neighbors have also seen rising rates in recent years.
The Department of Health and Welfare is embarking on a number of initiatives aimed at tackling the epidemic and Gov. Brad Little recently announced a closer partnership between the department and the statewide suicide hotline to help streamline crisis intervention for those at risk.
Rates of suicide among teens, young adults, Native Americans and the elderly in Idaho rose especially sharply between 2014 and 2018, according to the report.
Firearm continues to be by far the most common method in the state and nationally. It’s also the leading cause of gun death in America, though that fact is not widely known.
Mental health is a large factor in suicide rates and Idaho has many isolated, rural communities lacking mental health services. The nonprofit Mental Health America ranks the state as the third worst for access to such care.
Resources if you or someone you know is considering suicide:
Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline: Text or call 1-208-398-HELP (4357)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Options For Deaf + Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889
En español: 1-888-628-9454
Veterans Crisis Line & Military Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, Press 1
Crisis Text Line: 741-741
In emergency situations, call 911.
Follow Heath Druzin on Twitter, @HDruzin
Copyright 2020 Boise State Public Radio
