Vermont Opioid/Drug Related Fatalities with Suicide Statistics: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2019/02/14/opioid-deaths-rise-in-vermont-but-plummet-in-chittenden-county

1. Current Suicide Data in Vermont
Tom Delaney, PhD
September 27, 2018

2. Suicide Deaths in Vermont
and the United States
US 2016
- 44,966 deaths
- 10th leading cause
-Males ~3 times more
likely to die by suicide
than females
-Firearms involved with
approx. 51% of deaths
VT 2016
-118 deaths
-8th leading cause
-Males ~4 times more
likely to die by suicide
than females
-Firearms involved with
approx. 59% of deaths

4. Vermont and US Suicide Death Rates,
2005-2016 (per 100,000 people)
12.6
13.0
14.3 15.1
13.9
16.9
19.2
13.9
17.9
19.8
16.5
18.9
11.0 11.2 11.5 11.9 12.0
12.4 12.7 12.9 13.0
13.4 13.8 13.9
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Deathsper100,000ofpopulation
VT US Linear (VT) Linear (US)
Over the past 5 years, Vermont's suicide death rate has averaged
about 30% higher than the US rate.
Source: CDC
WISQARS

5. Suicide in the United States

6. Population Correlates of High
Vermont Suicide Rates
Consistently ranked as of the three healthiest US states, BUT…
• High rates of binge drinking – 17% in past month for adults
• High rates of firearm ownership & easy purchase of
firearms (Kalesan et al., 2015)
• Rural population – 2nd most rural in Northeastern US
• Older population –17.6% aged 65 and over (4th highest in US)
• 35% higher than national percent of adults who are veterans
• High proportion of White non-Hispanic population

7. Gender, Age and Suicide
25
33
37
45
6
10 11
0
10
20
30
40
50
15 - 24 25 - 44 45 - 64 65 +
VT Death Rates per 100,000
VT males VT females
18
25
29
32
5
7
10
5
0
10
20
30
40
50
15 - 24 25 - 44 45 - 64 65 +
US Death Rates per 100,000
US males US females
Based on WISQARS 2013-2016 VT and US data, age adjusted.

8. 21
18
25
18
19
20
17
15 15
17
19 19
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+
Deathsper100,000
Age Ranges
Older Adult Suicide Death Rates
VT and US (2012-2016)
VT
US
Source: CDC WISQARS

9. Trends in Vermont and US Youth and Young
Adult Suicide Deaths
0
5
10
15
20
25
rates: 00-02 rates: 03-05 rates: 06-08 rates: 09-11 rates: 12-14
Deathsper100,000population
VT and US Youth and Young Adult Suicide Death Rates
(3 Year Bins) 2000-2014
VT age 20-24 US age 20-24
VT age 10-19 US age 10-19

10. Suicide Attempts in Youth and Young Adults
CDC estimates 12 self-injury ED/hospital visits for every death by
suicide in the US.
25 : 1 attempts to deaths in young people
4 : 1 attempts to deaths in elderly
Many attempts do not receive medical attention.
Estimate of medically serious youth attempts in VT: 375 annually

11. Vermont Suicide Deaths Vary with
Geography and Demographics
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0
GrandIsle
Orleans
Essex
Addison
Chittenden
Windsor
Rutland
Franklin
Caledonia
Bennington
Washington
Windham
Orange
Lamoille
2012 - 2014 Death Rates per 100,000 residents, by VT County

13. Summary
● Vermont suicide death rates higher than US rates
 Increasing faster than US rates in recent years
 Correlated with a variety of population risk factors
● Males, middle aged and elderly have highest numbers of
deaths, and at highest risk
● Attempts are more frequent (but mortality is lower)
among younger people
● Vermont youth showing increasing trends in suicide
ideation and attempts in recent years
● Multiple sub-populations in VT at elevated risk compared
to general population

14. THANK YOU!!!
Questions/Comments:
Tom Delaney
thomas.delaney@uvm.edu