Resources for suicide prevention

Suicide prevention

The following materials were created prior to the merger between the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and the Utah Department of Human Services (UDHS). These materials are only available upon request.

Firearm Deaths in Utah, 2020.

The Firearm Deaths in Utah, 2020 report highlights that the firearm-related death rate in Utah has consistently been higher than the national average over the past decade. The majority of these deaths (84.1%) were suicides, with 85.5% of the victims being male, and handguns were involved in 77.1% of all firearm deaths.

Suicide Report, 2020.

The Suicide in Utah, 2020 report shows that an average of 621 Utahns die by suicide annually, with the highest rates among males and adults aged 25-64. Firearms were the most common method used in suicide deaths, accounting for 50.5% of cases, followed by suffocation and poisoning

The following materials were created prior to the merger between the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) and the Utah Department of Human Services (UDHS). These materials are only available upon request.

Suicide In Utah, 2018.

The Suicide in Utah, 2018 report reveals that an average of 592 Utahns die by suicide each year, with the highest rates among adults aged 25-64. Firearms were the most common method, accounting for 49.7% of suicide deaths, followed by suffocation and poisoning.

UVDRS Firearm Deaths, 2013.

The UVDRS 2013 Firearm Deaths report shows that in 2012, 330 Utah residents died from firearm-related incidents, with the majority (84.3%) resulting from suicide. The report also highlights a 15.4% increase in Utah's firearm-related death rate since 2010, significantly higher than the national increase of 1.0% during the same period.

NVDRS Special Report On Suicide, Utah, 2013-2014.

The NVDRS Special Report on Suicide highlights that in 2013-2014, 68% of violent deaths in Utah were suicides, with firearms used in 50% of these cases. The suicide rate in Utah was 51% higher than the national average, and males accounted for 77% of the victims, with the highest rates among those aged 45-64.

Health Status Update Risk and Protective Factors for Youth Suicide, 2015.

The Health Status Update: Risk and Protective Factors for Youth Suicide report highlights that in 2013, suicide became the leading cause of death among Utah youth aged 10-19, with 37 deaths and 942 injuries from suicide attempts annually. The report also identifies key risk factors, such as bullying and excessive screen time, while emphasizing protective factors like regular family meals and religious involvement, which lower the risk of suicide ideation.

Health Status Update CDC Epi-Aid Youth Suicide, 2017.

The Health Status Update: CDC Epi-Aid Youth Suicide report details a 141.3% increase in Utah’s youth suicide rate from 2011 to 2015, with 150 suicides among youth aged 10-17 during this period. The report identifies firearms and suffocation as the most common methods, with over half of the decedents having experienced a recent crisis and nearly a quarter disclosing their intent to die.

Suicide Infographic, 2010.

The Suicide Infographic highlights that suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in Utah, with 10 suicides occurring each week. Firearms are the most common method (53.1%), followed by suffocation and poisoning.

Youth Suicide Infographic. 2012.

The Youth Suicide Infographic highlights that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Utah youth aged 10-17, with 598 youth attempting suicide in 2011. In an average classroom of 30 students, 4 will have considered suicide, and 2 will have attempted it.

Youth Suicide, 2012.

The Suicide in Utah, 2012 Youth (10-17 years) report highlights that an average of 501 Utahns die by suicide each year, with youth comprising 4.0% of all suicides. It also notes that the 2012 youth suicide rate was 5.9 per 100,000 population, making it the second-leading cause of death for this age group.

Women Suicides, 2012.

The Suicide in Utah, 2012: Women (25-64 years) report highlights that women in this age group accounted for 17.2% of all suicides and 38.0% of all suicide attempts in Utah. Poisoning was the most common method of suicide among adult women, and the 2012 suicide rate for this group was 14.2 per 100,000, making it the fourth leading cause of death for women in this age range.

Men Suicides, 2012.

The Suicide in Utah, 2012: Men (25-64 years) report reveals that men in this age group accounted for 56.2% of all suicides and 23.0% of all suicide attempts in Utah. Firearms were the most common method of suicide among adult men, and the 2012 suicide rate for this group was 44.6 per 100,000, making it the fourth leading cause of death.

Older Adult Suicide, 2012.

The Suicide in Utah, 2012: Older Adults (65+ years) report highlights that older adults accounted for 10.7% of all suicides in Utah, with a suicide rate of 20.6 per 100,000. Firearms were the most common method of suicide for older adults, and the majority of suicides occurred at home.

Year	Ages 10-17	Ages 18-24	Ages 25-64	Ages 65+	Total ages 10+	Overall Suicide Rate Ages 10+ per 100,000 Population	95% CI
2024	32	76	453	95	656	21.67	(20.0-23.4)
2023	25	85	503	83	669	23.42	(21.7-25.2)
2022	39	96	479	103	717	24.64	(22.9-26.5)
2021	28	96	438	80	642	22.53	(20.8-24.4)
2020	38	90	447	76	651	23.36	(21.6-25.2)
2019	40	107	446	61	654	23.94	(22.1-25.8)
2018	40	93	461	71	665	24.85	(23.0-26.8)
2017	42	91	458	72	663	25.6	(23.4-27.3)
2016	32	77	433	70	612	23.89	(22.0-25.9)
2015	44	73	438	54	609	24.33	(22.4-26.3)
2014	35	74	375	71	555	22.69	(20.9-24.7)