Suicide rate highest among older males in Multnomah County
Multnomah County, like Oregon and the U.S., has higher rates of suicide deaths among men aged 65 years and older, according to a new report released by Multnomah County Health Department. The Spring 2009 issue of Community Health Assessment Quarterly found that in the 2001-05 period in Multnomah County, men who were 65 years and older had over five times the suicide rate of women in the same age group. Among men in the county, the suicide rate appears to increase with age. In 2003, Oregon had the 4th highest suicide death rate among adults aged 65 or older.
“This troubling pattern will most likely continue as baby boomers age and swell the numbers of older adults in Oregon. It is likely that the numbers of suicide deaths in this age group will also rise,” said Multnomah County Health Department Director Lillian Shirley.
The study also finds that the overall suicide rate for Multnomah County has remained stable between 1996 and 2005. In 2005, the age-adjusted death rate due to suicide in Multnomah County was 13.5 per 100,000 persons, approximately the same as the state (14.8 per 100,000) and slightly higher than the nation (10.9 per 100,000).
Hospitalizations for suicide attempts increased in Multnomah County and in Oregon between 2000 and 2006. In particular, the increase in hospitalizations in Multnomah County was most significant among women, rising about 64% between 2000 and 2006. The hospitalization rate for suicide attempts in 2006 was about 73% higher in women compared with men in Multnomah County, and roughly 84% higher in women compared with men across the state.
Data also indicate that firearms were most commonly involved in suicide deaths and poisoning was most commonly involved in hospitalizations for suicide attempts. Statewide, in 2006 there was a gender difference in the mechanism used in suicide deaths with men most likely to use firearms and women most likely to use poison.
“The most important strategy to prevent suicide is improving our ability to identify those who may be at risk. Training teachers and counselors in schools is effective in improved detection of depression among students. Health care providers also need training in detecting and treating depression as older adults are in more frequent contact with their health care providers than any other age group,” said Shirley.
The report is available at http://www.mchealth.org/hra/haq/spring2009_suicide.pdf For help with a mental health or addiction problem, contact Multnomah County’s Mental Health Call Center at 503-988-4888.
Posted on June 24, 2009
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