Healthy Minds Policy Initiative sends this information as posted below:
A new report released Thursday by Healthy Minds Policy Initiative translates insights from a decade’s worth of state suicide death data into recommendations that chart a course for suicide prevention in Oklahoma.
Suicide is an urgent public health problem for the state — Oklahoma ranks among the top ten states with the highest suicide rates, and suicide rates here have increased faster than the national average. Over the 10-year period analyzed in the report (2013 through 2022), nearly 8,000 Oklahomans died by suicide.
Healthy Minds’ report, one of the most comprehensive examinations of suicide published in Oklahoma, delves deeply into the factors behind our state’s high rates of suicide and suicidality. The report explores suicide rates by various demographic groups, data about the mental health and substance use histories of people who died by suicide, as well as data about the problems and stressors that preceded their deaths. Among the findings are:
- Over half of people who died by suicide in Oklahoma from 2013 to 2022 had a mental health or substance use disorder or both, but only about a quarter were in treatment at the time of their death.
- About a third of people who died by suicide had a problem with an intimate partner that appeared to contribute to their death, and about 1 in 5 had a physical health problem that appeared to contribute to their death.
- Native American and white Oklahomans have higher suicide rates than Oklahomans of other races.
- Rural Oklahoma counties have higher suicide rates compared to urban ones. Low broadband internet access was correlated with higher suicide rates.
- Oklahoma children and youth have lower suicide rates compared to adults, but have much higher rates of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts.
- Both in Oklahoma and nationally, men and boys have higher rates of suicide than women and girls. Men and boys are also much more likely to use a firearm, making them less likely to survive a suicide attempt.
“Suicide affects far too many Oklahomans across our state. These are our friends, family and neighbors, and their struggles deserve our attention,” said Zack Stoycoff, executive director of Healthy Minds. “We believe Oklahoma can reverse this trend — taking steps to prevent suicide today will have an impact on generations of Oklahomans.”
Among the report’s recommendations for suicide prevention is the need to reduce access to lethal means of suicide through common-sense policy changes around safe storage of firearms, as the vast majority of Oklahoma suicides are gun deaths. The report also calls for universal mental health screenings in schools and health care settings, prevention strategies that focus on groups most at risk, and accountability and leadership around suicide prevention at the state level.
The report’s release coincides with the start of Mental Health Awareness Month, recognized every May.
About Healthy Minds Policy Initiative
Healthy Minds Policy Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan policy organization that publishes research and analysis on mental health and substance use issues in Oklahoma, advocates for policy solutions that increase Oklahomans’ access to care, and convenes community partners to build stronger local mental health systems. The organization was founded in 2019 by The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation and has offices and staff members in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
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