Trends in Suicide and Suicide Attempts among Alaska Native People
Suicide is a major public health concern, both in the US and internationally. Alaska consistently has one of the highest suicide rates in the US, and suicide rates are higher among Alaska Native people than any other racial/ethnic group in the US. Monitoring trends in suicide and suicide attempts over time can help identify risk factors, which can be used to help focus suicide prevention efforts.
METHODS:
Data analyses were conducted using Alaska Trauma Registry data for hospitalizations (suicide attempts), Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics data for deaths (suicides), and Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development data for population-level data. Frequencies, rates, and trends were calculated for the years 1992-2011. Statistical significance was calculated using a Z-test at the 95% level of confidence.
RESULTS:
Among Alaska Native people from 1992-1995 to 2008-2010, suicide attempt hospitalization rates rose 73.7% (15.3 and 26.6 per 10,000, respectively, p<0.05). Between 2002 and 2011, poisoning led to three out of four suicide attempt hospitalizations (74.6%). From 1992-1995 to 2008-2011, the suicide death rate decreased 14.4% (46.4 and 39.7 per 100,000, respectively, p<0.05). Between 2002 and 2011, more than half of all suicides were caused by firearms (58.0%).
CONCLUSIONS:
The significant decrease in suicide mortality rates among Alaska Native people between 1992-1995 and 2008-2011 is encouraging news for current suicide prevention efforts. However, it is concerning that suicide attempt hospitalization rates rose significantly between 1992-1995 and 2008-2010. While three quarters of suicide attempt were due to poisoning, firearms were the means for the majority of suicides. This may suggest that the reduction in suicide rates is in part a reflection of people choosing less lethal means (i.e. poisoning) to attempt suicide. While efforts to reduce access to firearms should continue, future suicide prevention efforts should also focus on intentional poisoning prevention.