Coalition Forms To Combat Hoosier Suicides
INDIANAPOLIS - In response to the U.S. Surgeon General's call to action for states to mobilize with suicide-prevention programs, a new group in Indiana has responded to that call.
The Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence, based at the Indiana University School of Medicine, is spearheading the formation of the Suicide Prevention Coalition to heighten the public's awareness about the risk factors linked to suicide, and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
In Indiana, suicide has become a public health epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana's suicide rate is higher than the national average. During the period from 1996-1998, the rate of suicide for Hoosiers was 12.25 per 100,000-making it the second highest rate in the Midwest. Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death for Indiana residents. Kentucky had the highest rate of suicide in the Midwest at 12.74 per 100,000.
"It is so important for citizens to know that suicide affects a broad range of people throughout the state, and we need to work together to bring these numbers down," says Marilyn Bull, M.D., an IU School of Medicine pediatrician and medical director of the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence.
Each year, 30,000 Americans take their own lives, and suicide is now the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. U. S. Surgeon General David Satcher says suicide is a serious public health problem and claims more American lives that homicide. The Surgeon General's "call to action" recommends that eachstate adopt a suicide prevention plan.
"The trend among African American male suicides is alarming," says Marion County Health Department Director Virginia A. Caine, M.D. "All suicide rates are unacceptable and we will be working with a number of agencies to address the problem."
The partnership has teamed up with a number of statewide public health
groups to:
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Distribute information and education about the risk factors associated with suicide.
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Recommend removal of all lethal weapons, including firearms from the home if a family member is depressed.
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Disseminate information to the public about what communities can do to protect their loved ones, such as developing strong social support networks, and providing better access to clinical interventions.
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Develop and implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide.
According to the CDC, from 1990-98, over 400 suicides in Indiana were committed each year with a firearm and three out of five involved a firearm. In 1999, claimed 621 Hoosier lives.
Others In Indiana:
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Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24.
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During 1996-1998, white males accounted for 77 percent of all suicides.
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Sixty-three percent were committed with a firearm.
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83 percent of all firearm suicides were committed by white men.
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From 1994-1998, for black males ages 15-24, the suicide rate rose from 15.18 to 37.19 per 100,000.
"There are a number of places where people can get help in Indiana," says Marjorie Towell, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Marion County "For over 30 years, our agency has maintained a crisis and suicide intervention service that provides the public with crisis counseling and referral information."
Additionally, the Mental Health Association provides "Teen Link," a special telephone hotline developed especially for teenagers. "People should not be afraid to talk about depression or mental illness-sometimes we all need help," said Ms. Towell. "We are glad to be part of this national campaign."
Other coalition members collaborating on a statewide strategy to reduce the death toll resulting from suicide include Riley Hospital for Children's Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, Marion County Health Department, the Indiana State Department of Health, the Mental Health Division of Family and Social Services, and the Mental Health Association in Marion County.
The Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence was created to help reduce the numbers of death and injuries resulting from guns. The Partnership is currently developing a firearm injury data collection system that will provide in-depth information about circumstances surrounding suicides involving firearms. This information will be useful for future suicide prevention and intervention strategies.
Media Contacts: Joe Stuteville
Tel: (317)274-7722
Email: jstutevi@iupui.edu
Indiana Partnership to Prevent
Firearm Violence
317-575-9128
Ruby Grosdidier
Email:
rgrosdidier@aol.com
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
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