Suicide Education

Based on the Health Community Study in 2017, In Winnebago County:

• 21.4% of people report receiving insufficient social or emotional support
• Winnebago County has a rate of 147.6 mental health providers per 100,000 residents
• 18.6% (18+), or 39,315 people, who drink excessively
• In 2014, suicide rates averaged 12 per 100,000 residents in Winnebago county

Our community is in need of:

• Crisis care and stabilization for pediatric and adult populations, services for children and psychiatric care
• An integrated system of care for persons with multiple mental health disorders
• Assessment/diagnosis in a timely manner via a proactive system
• Case Management: need for relational, face-to-face engagement to support persistent and frequent users of service.

Statistics:

• Winnebago County lost 235 individuals in 2018 as a result of suicide and drug overdose.
• Winnebago County loses an average of 44 lives per year to suicide.

What leads to suicide?

There’s no single cause for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life.

Suicide Warning Signs

Something to look out for when concerned that a person may be suicidal is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. This is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do.