A report by the Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Coalition said the county’s suicide rate has reached its highest level since data has been tracked.
A report presented to county commissioners said there were 108 suicide deaths in the county in 2022. That is a rate of 21 per 100,000 people. Coalition spokesperson Nicole Klaus with the KU School of Medicine said the local and state rates are higher than the national rate, and they are rising more rapidly.
Klaus said the rate is increasing in most age groups, but the largest increase is among people age 15 to 34, for a rate of 31.7 per 100,000 people. Boys and men made up 84 percent of the suicide deaths in the county last year. Firearms are used in 61 percent of the deaths.
The report said 49 percent of the suicides involved people with a history of mental illness, and 46 percent had a history of substance abuse, with alcohol as the most commonly used substance. The most common factor in suicides for people under 54 is relationship problems, and for people 65 and older, physical health problems are the most common issue.
Klaus said COMCARE, Stop Suicide ICT and other agencies and groups have been providing training in crisis support, mental health first aid, and screening. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline received more than 47,000 calls last year.
The Coalition is sponsoring the Suspenders4Hope Run/Walk on September 30th on the Wichita State University campus to help raise awareness of suicide prevention.
