State’s high suicide rate targeted

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 8:54 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada is one of the top states in the nation in suicides, and Gov. Kenny Guinn is recommending stepped-up efforts to combat the problem.

State Human Resources Director Mike Willden said Nevada ranked in the top three among the states for a number of years. He called it an "alarming statistic."

"We don't do what we should do in this state," Willden told a joint Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee today.

The nation's suicide rate in 2003 was 11 per 100,000 people, while Nevada's rate was 18.5 for every 100,000.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, called a plan to increase public awareness and education about the problem "one of the most important programs we have."

Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, and chairwoman of the subcommittee, said, "The number of youth we see is staggering."

Willden said his department applied for three federal grants for start-up programs but has been unsuccessful so far in getting any money.

The governor's budget calls for $152,004 next fiscal year and $192,825 in 2007 to hire two people.

There is a "hot line" now to help those considering suicide, but Cegavske said that has had "mixed reviews."

Willden said there must be a coordinated effort statewide.

Willden said the suicide rate in rural Nevada is "staggering" at 27 per 100,000 people.

Figures from the state Bureau of Vital Statistics show there were 468 people who took their own lives in 2003, an increase of 16 from 2002. It was the highest number of suicides ever recorded in Nevada. Of those, 264 were in Clark County and 79 in Washoe County. The rate in Clark County was 16.3 suicides per 100,000 population.

Based on 100,000 population, whites have the highest rate at 24 followed by Native Americans at 19.5; blacks at 10.8; Asians at 9.5 and Hispanics at 7.2.

Most of those who took their own lives -- 240 -- used a gun or explosives. There were 81 who took poison or some other liquid or gas; 73 died from hanging, 14 from knife wounds and 7 from jumping off buildings.

The statistics from the bureau showed the most suicides -- 149 -- in the age group of 35-54. There were 57 deaths of those between the ages of 15-24 and 56 suicides between 55-64 years old.