Decreases in suicide deaths and attempts linked to the white mountain apache suicide surveillance and prevention system, 2001-2012

M.F. Cwik, L. Tingey, A. Maschino, N. Goklish, F. Larzelere-Hinton, J. Walkup and A. Barlow

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 12, 2183-2189

Abstract: Objectives. We evaluated the impact of a comprehensive, multitiered youth suicide prevention program among the White Mountain Apache of Arizona since its implementation in 2006. Methods. Using data from the tribally mandated Celebrating Life surveillance system, we compared the rates, numbers, and characteristics of suicide deaths and attempts from 2007 to 2012 with those from 2001 to 2006. Results.The overall Apache suicide death rates dropped from 40.0 to 24.7 per 100 000 (38.3% decrease), and the rate among those aged 15 to 24 years dropped from 128.5 to 99.0 per 100 000 (23.0% decrease). The annual number of attempts also dropped from 75 (in 2007) to 35 individuals (in 2012). National rates remained relatively stable during this time, at 10 to 13 per 100 000. Conclusions. Although national rates remained stable or increased slightly, the overall Apache suicide death rates dropped following the suicide prevention program. The community surveillance system served a critical role in providing a foundation for prevention programming and evaluation.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; aged; American Indian; Arizona; child; epidemiology; female; health survey; human; male; middle aged; suicide; suicide attempt; trends; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Arizona; Child; Female; Humans; Indians, North American; Male; Middle Aged; Population Surveillance; Suicide; Suicide, Attempted; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303453_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303453

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