Index: Health / Subcategory: Mental Health & Emotional Well-being

Suicide

Date Updated: 10/02/2012

Chart Directory:

Mortality refers to the number or rate of deaths that occur in a population. Mortality data below are presented in crude death and age-adjusted rates. Crude death rates are calculated by dividing the number of deaths from a specific disease or cause by the number of people in the population. Crude death rates should only be compared among populations with a similar age distribution. If the distribution is not similar, age-adjusted rates should be used to account for differences in the age composition of the populations.

Suicide was the 7th overall leading cause of death in Colorado and Larimer County for 2011. In 2011, more Larimer County residents died from suicide (54) than in motor vehicle accidents (22) or from illnesses such as diabetes (41), pneumonia (29), or breast (30) and colon cancer (23). (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)

What this chart shows: Suicide Mortality Rate* (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, 2002-2011

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What the above data tell us:

In the last 10 years, suicide rates in Larimer County have varied from a low of 11.8 in 2002 to a high of 18.8 in 2009. The 10-year average in Larimer County was 15.5 suicides per 100,000, well above the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 5.0, but below the statewide average of 16.6 suicides per 100,000. See Additional Information for an explanation of the Healthy People program.

What this chart shows: Attempted Suicide Rate* (per 100,000) in Larimer County, 2002-2011

*Crude Death Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What the above data tell us:

The data shown above represent the rate per 100,000 residents of attempted suicide resulting in hospitalization. It is likely some of these individuals died after being admitted and would also be counted in the suicide mortality rate. No statistics are currently available representing the number of attempted suicides that did not result in hospitalization. (See Attempted Suicide Rate by Gender chart for additional information.)

In all but three of the ten years shown above (2002, 2005 and 2006) the attempted suicide rate was significantly higher than for the state of Colorado.

What this chart shows: Suicide Mortality Rate* (per 100,000) by Age Group in Colorado & Larimer County, 2007-2011 (5-Year Totals)

*Crude Death Rate

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What the above data tell us:

In Larimer County, the highest suicide rate belonged to those over the age of 75 (25.0 per 100,000 residents). This rate was significantly higher than the overall 5-year suicide rate of 17.4 per 100,000 residents. In Colorado, the highest rate belonged to those between 45 and 54 (28.0).

Comparisons of rates of suicide deaths among seniors should be made with caution because there are a relatively few number of seniors who commit suicide each year in Larimer County. Minor fluctuations in the number of deaths have a large impact on the computed rate (see data table). From 2007 to 2011, Larimer County seniors (65 and older) accounted, on average, for 13.6% (31 deaths) of all county suicides.

What this chart shows: Adolescent Suicide Mortality Rate* (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, 2002-2011

*Crude Death Rate

To protect confidentiality, rates were not calculated when there were fewer than 3 instances and are marked as <3 above.

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What the above data tell us:

 Suicide rates for youths age 13 to 19 have fluctuated widely between 2002 and 2011. In four of the last ten years, there were fewer than three teen suicides in Larimer County. The highest number of teen suicides (n=6) occurred in 2005.

Additional Information:

Healthy People 2010 was a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative establishing national objectives to improve the health of all Americans, to eliminate disparities, and to increase the years and quality of life.

New guidelines and objectives have been established for the next ten years, through 2020.

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Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010 Objectives:

Healthy People 2020 Objectives:

Data Tables:Suicide Mortality Rate per 100,000 (Age-Adjusted)

Colorado

Larimer County

Rate

Number

Rate

Number

2002

 16.1 724 11.8 31

2003

 15.8 718 16.6 45

2004

 17.0 792 12.2 33

2005

 17.0 795 18.1 51

2006

 15.1 724 16.0 48

2007

 16.5 805 11.8 34

2008

 16.1 801 12.8 37

2009

 18.7 940 18.8 58

2010

 16.7 867 13.9 45

2011

 17.4 910 17.5 54

10-Year Average

 16.6 808 15.0 44

See chart

Suicide Attempt Rate per 100,000 (Crude Death Rate)

Larimer County

Number

Rate

2002

 187 70.3

2003

 223 83.2

2004

 227 83.1

2005

 211 76.5

2006

 181 64.4

2007

 232 80.9

2008

 302 103.3

2009

 317 106.6

2010

 285 94.8

2011

 269 88.1

See chart

Suicide Mortality Rate per 100,000 by Age Group
(5-year totals) (Crude Death Rate)

2006-2010

Colorado

Larimer County

Rate

Number

Rate

Number

15 to 24

 16.0 552 12.7 33

25 to 34

 18.4 660 19.0 41

35 to 44

 23.0 812 19.2 35

45 to 54

 28.0 1,033 24.4 52

55 to 64

 23.5 676 16.5 29

65 to 74

 17.2 259 13.5 13

75+

 24.6 286 25.0 19

See chart

Adolescent (13-19) Suicide Mortality Rate per 100,000

 

Colorado

Larimer County

2002

 11.5 N/A

2003

 6.5 N/A

2004

 11.8 N/A

2005

 11.5 20.0

2006

 8.5 10.0

2007

 7.6 N/A

2008

10.6

13.5

2009

11.8

 10.1

2010

10.0

 13.8

2011

10.6

 10.1

In years with fewer than 3 instances of suicide, no rates were established to protect the confidentiality of the deceased.

See chart