State study reports more than 700 suicides a year in Wisconsin over five-year span

WQOW

A new report, The Burden of Suicide in Wisconsin 2007-2011, has been produced by several agencies and organizations working in partnership. State leaders hope the report will help suicide prevention programs make informed choices about their priorities and strategies in the years to come. The report showed that on average there are 724 suicides each year in Wisconsin, with the highest rate among adults aged 45-54. In cases for which circumstances were known, just over half of those who died had a current mental health issue, and just over one quarter had an alcohol problem. One program already in use in Wisconsin is a statewide “Perfect Depression Care” learning community in which ten health care organizations currently participate. Shel Gross, director of public policy for Mental Health America of Wisconsin, explained that “Perfect Depression Care is part of a national movement known as ‘Zero Suicide,’ which is seeking to change the clinical culture to one that views suicide as a ‘never’ event.”

Spark Extra! Read the report: The Burden of Suicide in Wisconsin 2007-2011.