Suicide

Date Updated: 10/31/2011

Mortality refers to the number or rate of deaths that occur in a population. Mortality data below are presented in crude death and age-adjusted rates. Crude death rates are calculated by dividing the number of deaths from a specific disease or cause by the number of people in the population. Crude death rates should only be compared among populations with a similar age distribution. If the distribution is not similar, age-adjusted rates should be used to account for differences in the age composition of the populations.

Suicide was the 7th overall leading cause of death in Colorado and Larimer County for 2010. In 2010, more Larimer County residents died from suicide (45) than in motor vehicle accidents (21) or from illnesses such as diabetes (38), pneumonia (43), or colon cancer (29). (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)

What this chart shows: Suicide Mortality Rate* (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, 2001-2010

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

In the last 10 years, suicide rates in Larimer County have varied from a low of 11.8 in 2002 to a high of 18.8 in 2009. The 10-year average in Larimer County was 14.8 suicides per 100,000, well above the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 5.0, but below the statewide average of 16.6 suicides per 100,000. See Additional Information for an explanation of the Healthy People 2010 program.

Nationally, more than 33,000 people commit suicide each year. That equates to approximately 11 suicides per 100,000 people. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of suicides tends to be higher in western states than in eastern states. For a map of how states compare to the national average of suicides, see the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's report, Injury in Colorado [pdf].

What this chart shows: Attempted Suicide Rate* (per 100,000) in Larimer County, 2001-2010

*Crude Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

The data shown above represent the rate per 100,000 residents of attempted suicide resulting in hospitalization. It is likely some of these individuals died after being admitted and would also be counted in the suicide mortality rate. No statistics are currently available representing the number of attempted suicides that did not result in hospitalization. (See Attempted Suicide Rate by Gender chart for additional information.)

For six of the ten years shown above (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) the attempted suicide rate was significantly higher than for the state of Colorado.

What this chart shows: Suicide Mortality Rate* (per 100,000) by Age Group in Colorado & Larimer County, 2006-2010 (5-Year Average)

*Crude Death Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-Colorado Health Information DatasetSee data table

What the above data tell us:

In Larimer County, the highest suicide rate belonged to those over the age of 75 (23.3 per 100,000 residents). This rate was significantly higher than the overall 5-year average suicide rate of 15.2 per 100,000 residents. In Colorado, the highest rate belonged to those between 45 and 54 (26.6).

Comparisons of rates of suicide deaths among seniors should be made with caution because there are a relatively few number of seniors who commit suicide each year in Larimer County. Minor fluctuations in the number of deaths have a large impact on the computed rate (see data table). From 2006 to 2010, Larimer County seniors (65 and older) accounted, on average, for 12.1% (27 deaths) of all county suicides.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment [pdf], an important factor in up to a third of suicides among older people is chronic physical illness.

What this chart shows: Adolescent Suicide Mortality Rate* (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, 2001-2010

*Crude Death Rate

Rates were not calculated when there were fewer than 3 instances, to protect confidentiality and are marked as <3 above.

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Suicide rates for youths age 13 to 19 have fluctuated widely between 2001 and 2010. In five of the last ten years, there were fewer than three teen suicides in Larimer County. The highest number of teen suicides (n=6) occurred in 2005.

In 2007, suicide for youth ages 15 to 19 was the third leading cause of death in the nation for that age group. Risk factors for youth suicide include: previous suicide attempts; depression and/or alcohol or substance abuse; family history of mental disorders, substance abuse, or suicide; stressful situation or loss; easy access to guns; and exposure to other youth who have died by suicide (Centers for Disease Control).

Additional Information:

Healthy People 2010 is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative establishing national objectives to improve the health of all Americans, to eliminate disparities, and to increase the years and quality of life. New guidelines and objectives have been established for the next ten years, through 2020.

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Related Information on COMPASS -

• Adult Alcohol Use
• High School Dropout Rates
• Mental Health Status
• Poverty
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Youth Alcohol, Tobacco & Drug Use
• Youth Attitudes Toward Smoking

Other Resources -

• Centers for Disease Control - Suicide Fact Sheet
• Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control - Suicide Facts [pdf]
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Suicide Report, 2002 [pdf]
• The Colorado Trust - evaluation of Colorado LINK, an education, outreach, and prevention program for teen suicide.
• Suicide Resource Center of Larimer County
• National Institute of Mental Health Suicide Facts

Standards or Targets: Healthy People 2010 Objectives:

• 18-1. Reduce the suicide rate to 5.0 per 100,000 population
• 18-2. Reduce the rate of suicide attempts by adolescents to 12-month average of 1 percent

Data Tables:Suicide Mortality Rate per 100,000 (Age-Adjusted)

	Colorado		Larimer County
	Rate	Number	Rate	Number
2001	16.3	717	16.3	43
2002	16.1	724	11.8	31
2003	15.8	718	16.6	45
2004	17.0	792	12.2	33
2005	17.1	795	18.1	51
2006	15.1	724	16.0	48
2007	16.5	805	11.8	34
2008	16.1	801	12.8	37
2009	18.7	940	18.8	58
2010	16.8	867	14.0	45
10-Year Average	16.6	788	14.8	43

See chart

Suicide Attempt Rate per 100,000 (Crude Death Rate)

	Larimer County
	Number	Rate
2001	185	70.9
2002	187	70.3
2003	223	83.2
2004	227	83.1
2005	211	76.5
2006	181	64.4
2007	232	80.9
2008	302	103.3
2009	317	106.6
2010	285	95.1

See chart

Suicide Mortality Rate per 100,000 by Age Group
(5-year average) (Crude Death Rate)

2006-2010	Colorado		Larimer County
	Rate	Number	Rate	Number
15 to 24	16.2	556	13.8	36
25 to 34	17.7	620	20.9	44
35 to 44	22.9	812	17.1	31
45 to 54	26.6	982	20.9	45
55 to 64	22.7	619	21.3	35
65 to 74	16.3	234	11.1	10
75+	24.6	276	23.3	17

See chart

Adolescent (13-19) Suicide Mortality Rate per 100,000

	Colorado	Larimer County
2001	10.3	N/A
2002	11.5	N/A
2003	6.4	N/A
2004	11.7	N/A
2005	11.5	19.7
2006	8.5	9.9
2007	7.6	N/A
2008	10.5	13.2
2009	11.8	9.9
2010	10.0	13.4

In years with fewer than 3 instances of suicide, no rates were established to protect the confidentiality of the deceased.

See chart

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