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After nearly 560 Utahns committed suicide in 2014, state health officials have a message for residents: Suicide prevention is everyone's business.
"We have to have a significant cultural change about talking about these issues," said Kim Myers, the state Department of Human Services' suicide-prevention coordinator. "This should not be something that's hush-hush. We need to talk about it more in schools, and families have to be willing to recognize something that's happening in their own homes."
Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the state: Every day, an average of two Utahns kill themselves and 12 are hospitalized or treated for injuries sustained during a suicide attempt, according to a state Department of Health report released Thursday.
And even though there were fewer suicides in 2014 than in 2013 — 555 and 570, respectively — the state still was ranked seventh highest in the country in 2014, according to the report.
State officials anticipate that there will be more than 600 suicides in 2015.
But those same officials say they are working hard to bring down that number.
For example, Myers said, officials have partnered with entities around the state to improve treatment for individuals with suicidal ideations. Officials also are working diligently with schools to ramp up suicide-prevention programming and make sure all staff members are trained each year.
"We really are hoping to see better outcomes over next few years," Myers said. "It's hard to see the numbers increase, but we know prevention is an ongoing process."
Between 2012 and 2014, there were 7.5 youth suicides per 100,000 residents. But the number of suicides for people 45 to 54 years old far exceeded that number: 34 per 100,000, according to the report.
The report found that firearms were the most used method during that period, followed by suffocation.
The state has an initiative to reduce access to lethal means, such as firearms and prescription drugs, when an individual is found to be at risk for suicide, Myers said.
"People push back on that [initiative] a lot and say people will find another way, but there's lots of evidence ... that people often don't switch means," Myers said. "It's a good strategy."
The report also highlighted stressors for individuals at risk. For example, women are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness before their deaths, while males are more likely to have problems with their job, school or intimate partner prior to their deaths.
Suicide is complex and generally does not have one specific cause. Myers said people should challenge the stigma around suicide and talk about it so the person can get help.
"Treatment and intervention work," she said. "If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or talking about suicide, help is available. Don't give up. You are not alone."
Utahns having suicidal thoughts can get help 24/7 by calling the Statewide Crisis Line at 801-587-3000 or the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine at 1-800-273-TALK. They also can get help at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently launched a suicide-prevention website, preventingsuicide.lds.org, that "provides information and resources for people struggling with suicidal thoughts," according to a church news release, and "includes links to other websites that list warning signs and to crisis helplines around the world."
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