The Rising Suicide Rates
In the face of our nation’s growing concern over mental health, the staggering rise in suicide rates continues to haunt us. Since 2001, suicide rates have risen nearly every year, with last year’s provisional data indicating a 3% increase. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that the actual numbers may be even higher.
Despite multiple national suicide prevention strategies, the outcome continues to be disappointing. The highest suicide rates in the past 20 years have been recorded in rural states like Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming – roughly double the rates in urban areas.
Federal Strategies that Came Up Short
Over the past two decades, federal authorities have presented three national suicide prevention strategies. The first, introduced in 2001, aimed to address the risk factors associated with suicide. It concentrated on a set of common interventions. The following strategy focused on the creation and implementation of standardized protocols. It intended to identify and offer treatment to those at risk, followed by continuous care and support.
The Latest Attempt to Curb Suicide Rates
The most recent strategy, introduced in April, builds on previous ones and calls for the implementation of 200 action plans over the next three years. It targets populations disproportionately affected by suicide, such as Black youth, and Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
Despite these evolving strategies, mental health experts insist that these are not the problem. Instead, they argue that insufficient funding, lack of adoption, and poor utilization are at the heart of the issue. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters, widely affecting mental health negatively.
The Call for Robust Tracking and Data Collection
One major argument made by experts is that deaths by suicide aren’t universally tracked. Information is crucial to address health care quality, improve treatments, and allocate necessary resources. However, this hasn’t been the case for the study of behavioral health issues, such as suicide.
Currently, many states and territories do not link medical records to death certificates. This makes it harder for researchers to study patterns of suicide deaths, measure the success rate of prevention strategies, and identify locations where funding is most needed.
The Need for Consistent Implementation and Funding
Funding and execution of the strategies are equally problematic on the federal and local levels. Health professionals are not required to screen patients for suicidal thoughts during medical visits – a proven prevention measure.
Crisis intervention services exist but lack a standardized system, varying greatly from one place to another. Similarly, the newly launched 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline lacks proper funding and public awareness.
The Importance of State-Level Efforts
Just as the national government continues to struggle with implementing these strategies, so do state and local governments. However, some states like Colorado offer a glimmer of hope by providing financial incentives for implementing suicide prevention efforts.
Hopes for Future Strategies
Despite the slow progress, there are reasons to be hopeful about the latest strategy and action plan. Their focus on addressing social drivers of mental health and allocating spaces for mental health support gives hope to many mental health advocates.