Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Utah Women Stats Research Snapshot
Volume
43
Publisher
Utah Women & Leadership Project
Publication Date
9-7-2022
First Page
1
Last Page
5
Abstract
Suicide is a serious, evolving, and complex public health issue1 that negatively impacts individuals, families, and communities across Utah, the nation, and the world.2 Suicide can have lasting and harmful effects on everyone touched in some way, and it carries high economic and human costs.3 In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that the US loses almost $70 billion annually as a result of suicide attempts and suicides due to medical and work-loss-related costs.4
In 2020, suicide was the 12th-leading cause of death in the US,5 and there were double the number of suicides (16.5 per 100,000) to homicides (8.8 per 100,000).6 In Utah, according to the Public Health Indicator Based Information System (IBIS), from 2018 to 2020, “the age-adjusted suicide rate in Utah was 21.4 per 100,000 persons, with an average of 657 suicides per year.”7 Utah had the ninth highest age-adjusted suicide rate in the US in 2020.8 Further, in 2020, “suicide was the leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10–17 and 18–24,” the second leading cause of death for ages 25–44, and the fifth leading cause of death for ages 45–64.9 Overall, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) has reported that “suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for Utahns.”10 In fact, more deaths result from suicide than from motor vehicle crashes, breast cancer, or other chronic physical health problems.11
Although men are more at risk of dying by suicide than women, suicidal behavior is also a concern for girls and women.12 Aligned with the Utah Women & Leadership Project’s (UWLP) mission—to strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women—understanding gender-related risks of suicide is essential to decrease suicide in Utah and better protect the girls and women.13 Our hope is that this report will help raise awareness of this serious issue and offer recommendations that can empower more Utah girls and women to live fulfilling and productive lives. This research snapshot focuses on general suicide risk factors, specific risk factors for girls and women (including demographics), particular risk factors for Utah, and recommendations for what Utahns can do.
Recommended Citation
Hodson, Kristy; Bhowmick, Chloe; Jenkins, Cindy; and Madsen, Susan R., "Suicide Among Utah Girls and Women" (2022). Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications. Paper 427.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/marketing_facpub/427