Suicide in Georgia: 2000
State and County Statistics Strategic Plans
About 850 Georgians die every year from suicide
More Georgians die from suicide than homicide
Georgia County Suicide Rates, 1994 - 1998
Rome
Gainesville
Atlanta
Athens
County rate significantly higher t
rate
County rate higher than US rate
County rate lower than US rate
County rate unreliable
Augusta
Columbus
Macon Dublin
Albany
Savannah
Brunswick Waycross Valdosta
AFSP
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Southeastern Division
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES | DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Contents
page
Faces of Suicide .............................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Highlights ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Table 1.
10 Leading Causes of Death by Age Group, Georgia, 1994-1998
Suicide in Georgia ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Figure 6.
Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates, Georgia and the United States, 1984-1998 Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates by Race and Sex, Georgia, 1994-1998 Suicide Rates by Age Group, Georgia, 1994-1998 Average Annual Number of Suicides by Age Group, Georgia, 1994-1998 Suicide Rates for Youth 15-24 Years of Age by Race, Georgia, 1984-1998 Percent of Suicides by Method, Georgia and the United States, 1994-1998
Suicide Statistics by County ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Figure 7. Table 2.
Figure 8.
Age-adjusted Suicide Rates by County, Georgia, 1994-1998 Age-adjusted Suicide Rates, Number of Suicides, Number and Percent of Firearm Suicides by County, Georgia, 1994-1998 Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates in Urban and Non-Urban Counties, Georgia, 1994-1998
Risk Factors and Protective Actions ........................................................................................................................... 10
Table 3.
Risk Factors and Protective Actions for Suicide
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, 1999 ................................................................ 10
Summary and Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 11
Appendix .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Data Sources Methods Definitions
For More Information ........................................................................................................................................................... 13
Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 1
Faces of Suicide
from Lifekeeper Memory Quilts
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 2
www.lifekeeper.org
Rank
Table 1. Leading Causes of Death, Georgia, 1994 - 1998
Age Groups
0 - 4 (N = 6,325)
5 - 9 (N = 613)
10 - 14 (N = 708)
15 - 24
25 - 34
35 - 44
45 - 54
55 - 64
65 +
Total
(N = 5,275) (N = 8,743) (N = 15,697) (N = 23,676) (N = 35,204) (N = 196,773) (N = 293,014)
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 3
1
Perinatal Unintentional Unintentional Unintentional Unintentional Malignant Malignant Malignant
Heart
Heart
Conditions
Injury
Injury
Injury
Injury
Neoplasm Neoplasm Neoplasm
Disease
Disease
2,654
310
341
2,354
2,082
2,556
6,779
11,946
67,458
87,509
2
Congenital Malignant
Malignant Homicides
HIV
Anomalies Neoplasm Neoplasm
980
1,786
1,062
65
65
HIV 2,439
Heart Disease 6,071
Heart Disease 10,439
Malignant Neoplasm
41,155
Malignant Neoplasm
63,570
3
Unintentional Congenital Homicide
Suicide
Homicide
Heart
Unintentional
Stroke
Injury
Anomalies
52
648
964
Disease
Injury
1,778
571
32
2,439
1,635
Stroke 16,821
Stroke 20,594
Heart
Heart
Heart
Malignant
Suicide Unintentional Stroke
COPD
COPD Unintentional
4
Disease
Disease
Disease Neoplasm
821
Injury
1,193
1,553
10,404
Injury
168
24
42
226
2,208
14,916
Homicide
HIV
5
107
13
Suicide 30
Heart Disease
204
Malignant Neoplasm
716
Suicide 933
HIV
Unintentional Pneumonia & COPD
956
Injury
Influenza
12,671
1,159
8,892
Pneumonia & Pneumonia & Congenital
HIV
6
Influenza
Influenza
Anomalies
113
107
13
20
Heart Disease
664
Homicide 755
Chronic Liver Disease 711
Diabetes 955
Diabetes 4,351
Pneumonia & Influenza 10,548
Septicemia Homicide Pneumonia & Congenital
Stroke
Stroke
Suicide Chronic Liver Unintentional Diabetes
7
73
10
Influenza Anomalies
158
534
690
Disease
Injury
6,242
12
59
699
4,256
Malignant
Stroke
COPD Pneumonia & Pneumonia & Chronic Liver Diabetes Pneumonia & Septicemia
HIV
8
Neoplasm
10
12
Influenza
Influenza
Disease
532
Influenza
3,237
5,717
62
50
125
416
613
9
Stroke 58
Septicemia 8
Stroke 9
Stroke 33
Diabetes Pneumonia &
95
Influenza
COPD 475
Septicemia 410
Nephritis & Nephrosis
Suicide 4,242
302
3,049
COPD,
10
HIV
Anemia,
Anemia
Diabetes, Chronic Liver Diabetes Pneumonia & Suicide
Alzheimer's Septicemia
39
Benign Tumor
6
Anemia
Disease
278
Influenza
400
Disease
4,187
7 each
28 each
69
420
2,874
Highlights
From 1994 through 1998, an average of 848
In Georgia, from 1994-1998, nearly three out
Georgians per year died from suicide.
of four suicides (73%) involved a firearm.
Suicide is the ninth most common cause of
The suicide rate for Georgia's non-urban
death in Georgia.
counties is nearly 18% higher than the rate for
urban counties.
From 1994 through 1998, 18% more Geor-
gians died from suicide than homicide.
Appropriate clinical care for mental health,
substance abuse, and physical health can
Suicide rates are five times higher for males
reduce the frequency of suicide.
than for females in Georgia.
Restricted access to highly lethal or common
Suicide rates are two times higher for whites
than for blacks in Georgia.
methods, such as firearms or sedatives, can reduce the frequency of suicide.
15% of suicide deaths in Georgia occur among
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to
people 15-24 years of age.
Prevent Suicide, 1999 provides a framework
and 15 recommended actions to prevent
The suicide rate among young blacks, 15-24
suicide.
years of age, was 40% higher in 1996-1998
than it was in 1984-1986.
Introduction
Suicide is a leading cause of death in Georgia.
From 1994-1998, 4,242 Georgians died of suicide, an average of 848 per year, making it the ninth most common cause of death in the state (Table 1). For younger people suicide ranks even higher as a cause of death. Among those 15-24 years of age, for example, it is the third most common cause of death. Overall, suicide is more common than homicide, causing in recent years nearly 20% more deaths each year. Suicide attempts are also costly. Nationwide, for each suicide death approximately five people are hospitalized and 20 visit emergency departments for injuries related to a suicide attempt.
Suicide rates in Georgia differ by sex, race, and age. Rates are five times higher for males than for females and two times higher for whites than for blacks. Suicide rates in Georgia are highest among residents 75 years of age and older. In Georgia, three out of four (73%) suicide deaths involved a firearm.
The large number of deaths and the potential preventability of suicide have established it as a public health priority. Governor Barnes and the Georgia Legislature set aside $250,000 to develop a plan to prevent suicide in Georgia. The recently released U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide provides guidelines to increase the public's awareness of suicide and its risk factors, to enhance clinical services and prevention programs, and to advance the science of suicide prevention.
This report, Suicide in Georgia: 2000, provides information about the burden of suicide in Georgia. It describes the sex, race, and age characteristics of those who die from suicide, the methods they most commonly use, and death rates for each county. The report combines deaths during the five year period 1994-1998 to provide more stable estimates.
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 4
Suicide in Georgia
Suicide is a leading cause of death in Georgia. From 1994-1998, 4,242 Georgians died of suicide, an average of 848 per year and an age-adjusted death rate of 11.8 per 100,000 population. Suicide was the ninth most common cause of death (Table 1). For younger people it ranked even higher. Among those 15-24 years of age, suicide was the third most common cause of death.
Since 1984 suicide rates in Georgia and the United States have been fairly stable (Figure 1). In most years, the Georgia rate exceeded the U.S. rate. Between 1984 and 1991, suicide rates rose slightly, peaking in 1991 at an age-adjusted rate of 13.9 deaths per 100,000 Georgia residents. Since 1991, suicide rates in Georgia have declined an average of 3% per year.
From 1994-1998, 18% more Georgians died from suicide than homicide. In recent years both suicide and homicide rates have declined. However, the rate of decline has been smaller for suicide than for homicide. Since 1991, Georgia suicide rates have decreased an average of only 3% per year, but homicide rates have decreased 6% per year.
Men have higher suicide rates than women, and whites have higher rates than blacks. From 19941998, the age-adjusted suicide rate for males was five times higher than for females (21.0 per 100,000 persons versus 4.2); and two times higher for whites than for blacks (13.8 per 100,000 persons versus 6.2). In Georgia the risk for dying from suicide was twice as high for white males as for black males and 3.5 times higher for white females than for black females (Figure 2). The death rates for men exceed the rates for women in part because men typically choose more lethal means to commit suicide, such as firearms, when compared to women. Racial differences are more difficult to explain and seem to involve many interacting factors.
Figure 1. Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates, Georgia and the United States, 1984-1998
Figure 2. Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates by Race and Sex, Georgia, 1994-1998
Figure 3. Suicide Rates by Age Group, Georgia, 1994-1998
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 5
Figure 4. Average Annual Number of Suicides by Age Group, Georgia, 1994-1998
Figure 5. Suicide Rates for Youth 15-24 Years of Age by Race, Georgia, 1984-1998
Figure 6. Percent of Suicides by Method, Georgia and the United States, 1994-1998
Suicide rates are highest among older Georgia residents. Persons 75 years of age and older have the highest rate (20.8/100,000 persons) (Figure 3). Suicide rates may be higher among older adults because they are more likely to live alone, to be widowed, and to have a physical illness.
Despite the higher risk of suicide for an older person than a younger person (Figure 3), more younger Georgians die from suicide than older adults (Figure 4) because there are more younger Georgians than older. Between 1994 and 1998, 58% of suicide deaths were among persons younger than 45 years of age.
Suicide is the third most common cause of death for Georgians 15-24 years of age, exceeded only by unintentional injury and homicide (Table 1). This young age group accounts for 15% of all suicide deaths. Between 1984 and 1995, suicide rates among young blacks (ages 15-24) more than doubled; during the same time period, rates among young whites were stable (Figure 5). The suicide rate among young blacks fell in the most recent time period, 1996-1998, but remained 1.4 times higher than for the period from 1984-1986. Risk factors associated with suicides among youth include hopelessness, depression, family history of suicide, impulsive and aggressive behavior, social isolation, a previous suicide attempt, and ready access to alcohol, illicit drugs, and lethal suicide methods.
In Georgia, from 1994-1998 nearly three out of four suicides (73%) involved a firearm (Figure 6). In contrast, for the United States as a whole 58% of suicide deaths involved a firearm. The next most common methods in both Georgia and the United States were poisoning and strangulation.
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 6
Suicide Statistics by County
For the period from
1994 through 1998, thirteen
Georgia counties (Fannin,
Lumpkin, Pickens, Polk,
Rome
Carroll, Harris, Wilkinson,
Twiggs, Bleckley, Bryan, Tattnall, Wayne, and Ware) had
Atlanta
suicide rates that were signifi-
cantly higher (p < .10) than the
national rate (Figure 7). Another
57 counties had rates higher than
the national rate but the difference
was not statistically significant.
Columbus
Rates were not calculated for 64
Georgia counties because less than 10
residents died of suicide during the
five year period.
Gainesville Athens
Figure 7. Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates by County, 1994 - 1998.
Augusta
Macon
Dublin
Savannah
Table 2 shows the district or county name (column 1), the ageadjusted suicide rates for the five-year period between 1994 and 1998 (column 2), the number of suicide deaths between 1994 and 1998 (column 3), the number of firearm suicides (column 4), and the percent of suicides which were firearm suicides (column 5). Counties with suicide rates significantly higher than the overall suicide rate for the United States are shown in bold. Caution should be used when comparing county death rates because counties with small populations are more likely to have wide variations in death rates from year to year.
Albany Valdosta
Waycross
Brunswick
County rate significantly higher than US rate County rate higher than US rate County rate lower than US rate County rate unreliable
Figure 7. Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates in Urban and Non-Urban Counties, Georgia, 1994-1998
Suicide rates in Georgia are significantly higher in non-urban counties compared to urban counties (Figure 8). The suicide rate for Georgia's 117 non-urban counties combined is 18% higher than the rate for Georgia's 42 urban counties (12.9 per 100,000 people versus 10.9).*
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 7
* see definitions, page 12, for a list of urban counties
Table 2. Georgia District and County Suicides, 1994 - 1998 Combined.
District/County Name
AgeAdjusted Suicide
Rate1
Georgia District 1-1: Northwest
11.8 12.4
Bartow
12.5
Catoosa
10.1
Chattooga
13.6
Dade
10.6
Floyd
11.5
Gordon
15.2
Haralson
17.7
Paulding
10.8
Polk
19.6
Walker
9.2
District 1-2: Dalton
12.3
Cherokee
7.6
Fannin
23.9
Gilmer
15.1
Murray
14.0
Pickens
20.1
Whitfield
13.2
District 2: Gainesville
12.3
Banks
14.9
Dawson
3.5
Forsyth
11.4
Franklin
17.5
Habersham
15.3
Hall
11.3
Hart
16.2
Lumpkin
22.8
Rabun
14.6
Stephens
8.0
Towns
11.7
Union
8.2
White
13.1
District 3-1: Cobb-Douglas 11.0
Cobb
10.7
Douglas
12.4
District 3-2: Fulton
11.6
Fulton
11.6
District 3-3: Clayton
11.1
Clayton
11.1
District 3-4: East Metro 10.9
Gwinnett
10.8
Newton
9.8
Rockdale
12.9
District 3-5: DeKalb
10.2
DeKalb
10.2
Number Number of Suicide of
Deaths Firearm Suicides
4,242 284
3,097 214
Percent of
Suicides by
Firearm 73 75
41
30
73
25
16
64
16
11
69
8
6
75
49
41
84
29
21
72
21
16
76
33
30
91
34
22
65
28
21
75
175
129
74
49
34
69
21
14
67
13
12
92
21
17
81
18
15
83
53
37
70
232
180
78
9
5
56
1
1
100
37
25
68
16
14
88
24
18
75
65
50
77
17
12
71
19
16
84
11
9
82
10
9
90
5
5
100
7
6
86
11
10
91
320
218
68
272
183
67
48
35
73
411
264
64
411
264
64
111
74
67
111
74
67
296
209
71
230
165
72
25
18
72
41
26
63
297
199
67
297
199
67
District/County Name
AgeAdjusted Suicide
Rate1
District 4: LaGrange
13.2
Butts
16.4
Carroll
18.3
Coweta
14.8
Fayette
10.6
Heard
14.8
Henry
13.8
Lamar
12.8
Meriwether
8.9
Pike
8.6
Spalding
12.1
Troup
13.4
Upson
10.7
District 5-1: South Central 11.9
Bleckley
25.1
Dodge
10.4
Johnson
13.2
Laurens
12.9
Montgomery
7.4
Pulaski
5.5
Telfair
13.7
Treutlen
3.4
Wheeler
3.5
Wilcox
10.5
District 5-2: North Central 13.7
Baldwin
12.7
Bibb
13.4
Crawford
13.9
Hancock
3.8
Houston
12.0
Jasper
6.8
Jones
16.0
Monroe
16.4
Peach
13.8
Putnam
17.9
Twiggs
23.8
Washington
15.5
Wilkinson
26.4
District 6: Augusta
10.3
Burke
12.8
Columbia
6.0
Emanuel
17.9
Glascock
17.6
Jefferson
13.0
Jenkins
2.4
Lincoln
17.7
Number Number Percent
of Suicide of
of
Deaths Firearm Suicides
Suicides by
Firearm
352
255
72
14
13
93
71
55
77
52
33
63
40
26
65
7
6
86
58
45
78
9
5
56
10
5
50
5
4
80
34
26
76
38
30
79
14
7
50
74
61
82
14
12
86
9
6
67
5
3
60
27
23
85
3
3
100
2
2
100
8
6
75
1
1
100
1
1
100
4
4
100
300
239
80
26
25
96
102
74
73
7
7
100
2
2
100
60
43
72
3
3
100
16
12
75
15
14
93
15
11
73
15
13
87
11
10
91
15
13
87
13
12
92
206
161
78
13
10
77
24
20
83
18
15
83
2
2
100
11
11
100
1
1
100
7
3
43
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 8
Table 2. Georgia District and County Suicides, 1994 - 1998 Combined.
District/County Name
AgeAdjusted Suicide
Rate1
McDuffie
7.5
Richmond
10.8
Screven
13.4
Taliaferro
31.3
Warren
12.8
Wilkes
8.0
District 7: West Central
12.1
Chattahoochee
23.4
Clay
22.2
Crisp
9.3
Dooly
21.9
Harris
20.2
Macon
15.7
Marion
6.9
Muscogee
10.7
Quitman
11.0
Randolph
10.3
Schley
4.7
Stewart
26.1
Sumter
11.9
Talbot
14.1
Taylor
10.2
Webster
0.0
District 8-1: Valdosta
13.3
Ben Hill
10.6
Berrien
18.7
Brooks
13.4
Cook
16.3
Echols
22.9
Irwin
16.0
Lanier
0.0
Lowndes
13.5
Tift
12.6
Turner
16.2
District 8-2: Southwest
12.1
Baker
12.3
Calhoun
10.7
Colquitt
14.0
Decatur
11.8
Dougherty
10.3
Early
3.1
Grady
16.7
Lee
15.1
Number Number of Suicide of
Deaths Firearm Suicides
8
6
101
75
10
9
3
1
4
4
4
4
200
143
8
5
4
3
9
8
11
7
21
14
10
7
2
2
94
63
2
2
4
2
1
1
7
6
18
15
5
4
4
4
0
0
135
100
9
6
14
11
10
8
11
9
2
2
7
5
0
0
53
38
22
15
7
6
196
161
2
2
3
3
27
25
15
11
47
36
2
2
18
15
15
12
Percent of
Suicides by
Firearm 75 74 90 33 100 100 72 63 75 89 64 67 70 100 67 100 50 100 86 83 80 100 0 74 67 79 80 82 100 71 0 72 68 86 82 100 100 93 73 77 100 83 80
Bold are statistically significantly higher than the United States rate.
District/County Name
AgeAdjusted Suicide
Rate1
Number Number of Suicide of
Deaths Firearm Suicides
Miller
13.0
4
4
Mitchell
12.7
12
7
Seminole
5.9
3
2
Terrell
12.8
7
7
Thomas
13.1
27
23
Worth
13.2
14
12
District 9-1: Savannah
12.3
154
109
Chatham
12.1
133
94
Effingham
13.9
21
15
District 9-2: Southeast
13.5
193
148
Appling
6.5
5
4
Atkinson
13.0
4
3
Bacon
16.2
8
7
Brantley
12.3
8
7
Bulloch
8.2
19
15
Candler
17.0
7
6
Charlton
0.0
0
0
Clinch
6.0
2
1
Coffee
13.4
21
17
Evans
17.5
8
6
Jeff Davis
12.6
8
6
Pierce
7.1
5
5
Tattnall
27.3
25
19
Toombs
14.1
17
14
Ware
19.0
34
25
Wayne
18.3
22
13
District 9-3: Coastal
12.5
119
91
Bryan
19.6
20
16
Camden
8.3
16
10
Glynn
13.4
45
36
Liberty
10.8
27
20
Long
7.3
3
3
McIntosh
16.5
8
6
District 10: Athens
12.5
119
91
Barrow
13.2
24
17
Clarke
10.0
46
36
Elbert
13.9
13
11
Greene
7.8
5
5
Jackson
14.5
25
17
Madison
15.0
18
12
Morgan
8.4
6
6
Oconee
8.4
9
9
Oglethorpe
15.1
8
7
Walton
13.7
32
22
1 Age-adjusted to the United States Standard Population 2000
Percent of
Suicides by
Firearm 100 58 67 100 85 86 71 71 71 77 80 75 88 88 79 86 0 50 81 75 75 100 76 82 74 59 76 80 63 80 74 100 75 76 71 78 85 100 68 67 100 100 88 69
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 9
Risk Factors and Protective Actions
Risk factors are associated with a greater potential for suicide and suicidal behavior. For many of the risk factors for suicide, protective actions can be taken that will reduce risk (Table 3).
Table 3. Risk Factors and Protective Actions for Suicide*
Risk Factors
Protective Actions
Mental disorders - particularly mood disorders such as depression and bi-polar disorder
Appropriate clinical care for mood disorders
Substance abuse
Appropriate clincal care for substance abuse
Physical illness
Appropriate clinical care for physical illness
Barriers to appropriate clinical care
Improved access and coverage for mental health, substance abuse, and physical health problems
Easy access to highly lethal (e.g., firearms) or common methods (e.g., sedatives) of suicide
Restricted access to highly lethal or common methods of suicide
Family history of suicide or previous suicide attempt
Recognition and referral
Hopelessness or depression
Recognition and referral
Financial loss or social isolation
Family and community support
Cultural or religious beliefs that suicide is a noble resolution Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage suicide *Adapted from The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, 1999.
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, 1999
The recently released The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, 1999 is a framework for action at the local, state, and federal level. The Call to Action includes 15 recommendations for preventing suicide by reducing risk factors and promoting protective actions. The recommendations are grouped under three headings, Awareness, Intervention, and Methodology, or AIM. The three categories and their accompanying recommendations are presented here.
Awareness: Appropriately broaden the public's awareness of suicide and its risk factors.
Promote public awareness that suicide is a public health problem and that many suicides are preventable.
Expand awareness of and enhance resources in communities for suicide prevention programs
and mental and substance abuse disorder assessment and treatment. Develop and implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior and with seeking help for such problems.
Intervention: Enhance services and programs, both population-based and clinical care.
Extend collaboration with and among public health and private sectors to complete a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and a Georgia Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
Improve the ability of primary care providers to recognize and treat depression, substance abuse, and other major mental health illnesses associated with suicide risk.
Eliminate barriers in public and private insur-
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 10
ance programs for provision of quality mental
portrayals of suicide and its associated risk
and substance abuse disorder treatments and
factors including mental illness and substance
create incentives to treat patients with coexist-
abuse disorders and approaches to prevention
ing mental and substance abuse disorders.
and treatment.
Institute training for all health, mental health,
substance abuse, and human service profession- Methodology: Advance the science of suicide
als concerning suicide risk assessment and
prevention.
recognition, treatment, management, and after-
care interventions.
Enhance research to understand risk and protec-
Develop and implement effective training
tive factors related to suicide, their interaction,
programs for family members of those at risk
and their effects on suicide and suicidal behav-
and for natural community helpers (educators,
iors. Additionally, increase research on effective
coaches, hairdressers, and faith leaders, etc.) on
suicide prevention programs, clinical treatments
how to recognize, respond to, and refer people
for suicidal individuals, and culture-specific
showing signs of suicide risk and associated
interventions.
mental and substance abuse disorders.
Develop additional scientific strategies for
Develop and implement safe and effective
evaluating suicide prevention interventions and
programs in educational settings for youth that
ensure that evaluation components are included
address adolescent distress, provide crisis
in all suicide prevention programs.
intervention, and incorporate peer support for
Establish mechanisms for federal, regional, and
seeking help.
state interagency public health collaboration
Enhance community care resources by increas-
toward improving monitoring systems for
ing the use of schools and workplaces as access
suicide and suicidal behaviors and develop and
and referral points for mental and physical
promote standard terminology in these systems.
health services and substance abuse treatment
Encourage the development and evaluation of
programs and provide support for persons who
new prevention technologies, including firearm
survive the suicide of someone close to them.
safety measures, to reduce easy access to lethal
Promote a public/private collaboration with the
means of suicide.
media to assure that entertainment and news
coverage represent balanced and informed
Summary and Recommendations
Information in this report documents that suicide is an important public health issue for the residents of Georgia. Suicide causes about 850 deaths every year in Georgia. Suicide is about five times more common among men than women; two times more common among whites than blacks. Rates among young blacks are 1.4 times higher than 15 years ago. Suicide rates are about 20% higher in nonurban than urban areas; and three out of four suicides in Georgia involve a firearm.
Suicide rates in Georgia and in the nation can be reduced by a combination of 1) increased awareness of the risk factors for suicide, 2) improved services and programs, 3) restricted access to highly lethal and common methods of suicide, and 4) evaluation of new suicide prevention efforts. Combined public and private efforts will be necessary to achieve these goals.
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 11
Appendix
Data Sources Methods Definitions
The source for the number and cause of deaths in Georgia was the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, Vital Records Branch.
The source for the Georgia population estimates was the US Bureau of the Census; estimates from December 1998 were used.
The source for national suicide death rates was the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes for suicide are E950-959.
Suicide death rates were age-adjusted using the direct method. The United States Standard Population 2000 was used as the standard.
Standard errors for age-adjusted rates were calculated as described in: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, Monthly Vital Statistics Report, volume 45, number 11 (S)2, June 12, 1997, page 77. P < .10 was considered significant.
Age-adjusted death rate - A rate calculated in a manner that allows for the comparison of populations with different age structures.
Risk factor - A habit, characteristic, or finding on clinical examination that is consistently associated with increased probability of a condition or complication from that condition.
Urban - Counties in designated metropolitan statistical areas according to the US Bureau of Census. Urban counties in Georgia are Dougherty and Lee (Albany), Clarke, Madison, and Oconee (Athens), Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton (Atlanta), Columbia, McDuffie, and Richmond (Augusta), Catoosa, Dade, and Walker (Chattanooga), Chattahoochee, Harris, and Muscogee (Columbus), Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach, and Twiggs (Macon), and Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham (Savannah).
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 12
For More Information
In Georgia and in the United States many individuals and organizations are working toward the goals of the Surgeon General's Report and, ultimately, toward the goal of preventing suicide in Georgia. Some of these organizations are listed below. Interested persons are encouraged to contact these groups for more information.
For Help In A Suicide Emergency In Georgia Call 911 Or Your Local 7 Digit Emergency Number.
For information about Suicide Survivors Support Groups call 404-256-9797
Agencies Collaborating to Prevent Suicide in Georgia
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Southeastern Division Phone: 888-333-2377 (Toll free, no local number)
Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health Phone: 404-679-0500
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network Phone: 404-687-9487
Georgia Parent Support Network Phone: 404-758-4500 Phone: 800-832-8645 (Toll free)
Georgia School Counselors Association Phone: 770-785-9302
The Link Counseling Center Phone: 404-256-9797
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) -Georgia Phone: 770-234-0855 Phone: 800-728-1052 (Toll free)
National Mental Health Association of Georgia Phone: 404-527-7175
National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide Georgia Contact Phone: 404-505-7703
National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare Phone: 404-256-9797
Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (SPAN) Georgia Contact Phone: 404-505-7703
Time for Community Coalition Phone: 404-687-9891
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 13
National Suicide Prevention Organizations
American Association of Suicidology (AAS) 4201 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 408 Washington, DC 20008 Phone: 202-237-2280 E-mail: ssilive16@ixnetcom.com Website: www.suicidology.org
National Alliance for The Mentally Ill (NAMI) 2107 Wilson Boulevard, 3rd Floor Arlington, Virginia 22201 Phone: 800-950-6264(Toll free) Website: www.nami.org
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (NDMDA) 730 North Franklin Street, Suite 501 Chicago, Illinois 60610-3526 Phone: 800-826-3632 (Toll free) Website: www.ndmda.org
National Mental Health Association (NMHA) 1021 Prince Street Alexandria, Virginia 2231-2971 Phone: 800-969-NMHA (Toll free) Website: www.nmha.org
National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide P. O. Box 125 San Marcos, Texas 78667 Phone: 830-625-3576 E-mail: db31@swt.ed
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) 120 Wall Street, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10005 Phone: 888-333-2377 (Toll free) E-mail: rfabrika@asfp.org Website: www.afsp.org
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Mailstop K60, 4770 Buford Highway Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724 Phone: 770-488-4362 E-mail: dvpinfo@cdc.gov Website: www.cdc.gov
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9663 Phone: 301-443-4513 E-mail: nimhinfo@nih.gov Website: www.nimh.nih.gov
SA\VE-Suicide Awareness\Voices of Education 7317 Cahill Road, Suite 207 Edina, Minnesota 55439 Phone: 612-946-7998 E-mail: save@winternet.com Website: www.save.org
Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network USA (SPAN USA) 5034 Odins Way Marietta, Georgia 30068 Phone: 888-649-1366 (toll free) E-mail: act@spanusa.org Website: www.spanusa.org
Acknowledgments
Georgia Department of Human Resources .............................................................................. Audrey W. Horne, Commissioner Division of Public Health ............................................................................. Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., Director Environmental Health and Injury Prevention Branch .............................................................. Michael R. Smith, Director Epidemiology Branch ............................................................................................. Paul A. Blake, M.D., M.P.H., Director Chronic Disease, Injury, and Environmental Health Epi Section ........................ Kenneth E. Powell, M.D., M.P.H., Chief
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Southeastern Division Executive Director, National Office ............................................................................................................. Robert Gebbia
Suggested Citation: Anderson MA, Powell KE, Davidson SC. Suicide in Georgia: 2000. Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, Epidemiology Section, June 2000. Publication number DPH00.34H
Further information on this report may be obtained by contacting: Steve Davidson, Director Office of Injury Prevention, Environmental Health and Injury Prevention Branch Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources 2600 Skyland Drive, Upper Level, Suite 10, Atlanta, GA 30319 404-679-0500
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 14
For Help In A Suicide Emergency In Georgia Call 911 Or Your Local 7 Digit Emergency Number.
For information about Suicide Survivors Support Groups call 404-256-9797
Risk Factors and Protective Actions for Suicide*
Risk Factors
Protective Actions
Mental disorders - particularly mood disorders such Appropriate clinical care for mood disorders as depression and bi-polar disorder
Substance abuse
Appropriate clincal care for substance abuse
Physical illness
Appropriate clinical care for physical illness
Barriers to appropriate clinical care
Improved access and coverage for mental health, substance abuse, and physical health problems
Easy access to highly lethal (e.g., firearms) or com- Restricted access to highly lethal or common methods
mon methods (e.g., sedatives) of suicide
of suicide
Family history of suicide or previous suicide attempt Recognition and referral
Hopelessness or depression
Recognition and referral
Financial loss or social isolation
Family and community support
Cultural or religious beliefs that suicide is a noble resolution
Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage suicide
*Adapted from The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, 1999.
Suicide In Georgia 2000 | 16