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Suicide 101. Peter M. Gutierrez, Ph.D. VA VISN 19 MIRECC Department of Psychiatry University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. National Mortality Data - 2005. 32,637 Suicide Deaths (11.0) 25,907 Male Suicide Deaths (17.7) 11 th Leading Cause of Death Rate for 25-34 y/o 12.4
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Suicide 101 Peter M. Gutierrez, Ph.D. VA VISN 19 MIRECC Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
National Mortality Data - 2005 • 32,637 Suicide Deaths (11.0) • 25,907 Male Suicide Deaths (17.7) • 11th Leading Cause of Death • Rate for 25-34 y/o 12.4 • Colorado 6th Highest Rate (17.1) National Vital Statistics Reports, 56(10)
Estimated Attempts - 2005 • No Official National Data Compiled • 816,000 (25:1) • One Attempt Every 39 Seconds • 3 Female Attempts for Every Male National Vital Statistics Reports, 56(10)
VA Suicide Data Sources • VA relies on multiple sources of information to identify deaths that are potentially due to suicide • VA 's own Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator Subsystem • Records from the Social Security Administration • Data compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics in its National Death Index
National Death Index Matched to Service Members Separating 2002-2005 • VA examined OEF/OIF service members who separated from service in that time period • Male veterans 18-29 who used VA care died by suicide at a rate of 21.0/ 100,000, compared to veterans of that age who did not use VA for care (30.4)
NDI Findings Continued • Male veterans aged 30-64 who used VA for care died of suicide at a rate of 17.5 compared to a rate of 22.8 for those who did not use VA for care (ns) • only 3 women OEF/OIF veterans died of suicide through 2005, accurate rates within age groups cannot be calculated
VA Efforts to Track Suicide Attempts • Suicide Prevention Coordinators now compiling data on suicide attempts, of which they are aware, at all 153 medical centers nationwide • In place for past 22 months
* Indicates fewer than 3 deaths; "Veteran" indicates only that the person served in the US Armed Services
Lessons Learned from OEF/OIF Veterans • Qualitative study of combat veterans • Impacts of deployment • Coping strategies developed in theater don't work as well at home • Role of burdensomeness, failed belongingness, and habituation to painful stimuli Brenner et al., 2008
Suicidality and Psychiatric Admission – VA TBI Survivors • 22 Subjects • Total Number of Admissions: 114 • Median Number of Admissions: 3 • Range of Admissions: 1-20 Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Suicidal Ideation Assessed at Time of Admission Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Suicidal Ideation Present at Time of Admission Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Number of Admissions Secondary to a Suicide Attempt 11% of total admissions Number of attempts 1-5 Median - 2 Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
Attempt Method Gutierrez, Huggins & Brenner, 2008
National Suicide Crisis Line 1-800-273-TALK • Press 1 for Veteran • Partnership with the Lifeline Program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration • Went live July, 2007
Impact of VA Crisis Line - Nationally • As of April ‘09, more than 120,000 calls have come to the hotline from veterans, family members, or friends • 3060 rescues involving emergency services