SUICIDE RATES FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY
MOST of the suicides in Tompkins County are caused by Gunshot. Poisoning/Overdose is the second leading cause.
Hanging/Strangulation/Suffocation is the third leading method. Jumping suicides from high places (buildings, bridges, gorge overlooks, abutments to bridges) accounts for around 9% of the suicides in Tompkins County. We're still in the process of analyzing this data.
The overall suicide rate for Tompkins County varies but is lower than the New York State and the National average.
Antifreeze was used by 2 people to commit suicide in 2010. This is the first time that antifreeze was used in the 18 years of statistics that we've been able to access.
Here's the link to the CDC website to obtain suicide rates by county, state or region. It's possible to search for various means and age groups.
http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html. Smaller numbers are suppressed on the CDC website to protect privacy.
Hanging/Strangulation/Suffocation is the third leading method. Jumping suicides from high places (buildings, bridges, gorge overlooks, abutments to bridges) accounts for around 9% of the suicides in Tompkins County. We're still in the process of analyzing this data.
The overall suicide rate for Tompkins County varies but is lower than the New York State and the National average.
- The average suicide rate for Tompkins County is 6.6 per 100,000.(1)
- The average suicide rate for New York State is one of the lowest in the United States 7.0 per 100,000. (1) (2)
- The average suicide rate for the United States overall 11.1 suicides per 100,000.(3)
- The average annual suicide rate for 20 to 24 year olds is 12.5 per 100,000.(3)
- The average annual suicide rate for college students is 7.5 suicides for every 100,000 students. (4)
Antifreeze was used by 2 people to commit suicide in 2010. This is the first time that antifreeze was used in the 18 years of statistics that we've been able to access.
Here's the link to the CDC website to obtain suicide rates by county, state or region. It's possible to search for various means and age groups.
http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html. Smaller numbers are suppressed on the CDC website to protect privacy.
Death Statistics for Tompkins County 1993 through 2010 from the Department of Public Health
These files contain the raw data about suicides in Tompkins County from 1993 through 2010. Most include gender, age and means of suicide.
2010_death_statistics.pdf | |
File Size: | 229 kb |
File Type: |
2004_death_statistics.pdf | |
File Size: | 178 kb |
File Type: |
1993_-_2009_death_statistics_except_2004.pdf | |
File Size: | 1750 kb |
File Type: |
Means of Death by Suicide in Tompkins County from 1979 to 2010
Here we provide comprehensive suicide statistics for Tompkins County from 1979 – 2010.
Pie Chart
Distribution of means of 265 suicide cases in Tompkins County from 1979 – 2010 (total number of cases and percentage). Firearms constitute the major means of suicide (44%), followed by hanging, suffocation, asphyxiation (24%), and poisoning (13%). Jumping accounts for only 11% of suicides.
Comparison of total suicides and jumping suicides per year in Tompkins County (Note: suicides by “Out of County Residents” are not included; 1979 – 2007 data from CDC; 2008-2010* data from Department of Health). Yearly suicide numbers are fluctuating to a large extend. Suicide by jumping accounts for only a minor portion of total suicides.
Graph
Death statistics were acquired from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, www.cdc.gov) using the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC Wonder, http://wonder.cdc.gov). Mortality data for Tompkins County from 1979 – 2007 were obtained using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes; E950-E959 according to ICD-9 (for 1979 - 1998) codes and X60-X84 (intentional self-harm) according to ICD-10 (1999 - 2007). Additional mortality data for 2007 – 2010 were derived from annual reports issued by the Tompkins County Health Department (http://www.tompkins-co.org/health/pnc/annual.htm). Cause of death given in these reports was classified according to ICD-10. It must be noted that data from CDC and annual reports by the Tompkins County Health Department are not identical for the period covered by both institutions (1993 – 2007). For combined data analysis of 265 suicides reported from 1979 – 2010, means of suicide were defined as “poisoning” (E950.0-E950.5, E950.9, X64, X69), „hanging, suffocation, asphyxiation“ (E952.0-1, E953.0-1, X67, X70), „gunshot & firearms“ (E955.0-E955.4, X73-74), „jumping“ (E957.1-2, X80), „other specified means“ (E958.8, X82, E954, X71), and „unspecified means“ (E958.9, E953.9, X84).
To provide some context there were 327 Motor Vehicle Deaths from 1979 through 2007 in Tompkins County.
Means of suicide used in New York State- 1979 through 2007 (from the CDC website http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html)
10,865 Firearm (1979-2007)
7,235 Hanging/Strangulation/Suffocation (1979-2007)
5,525 Poisoning/Overdose (1979-2007)
3,208 Jumping from a High Place (1979-2007)
755 Intentional Drowning and Submersion
697 Cutting/Piercing by Sharp Object
1,377 Other Intentional Self-Harm
29,662 total suicides in New York State from 1979 through 2007
To provide some context there were 45,081 Motor Vehicle Deaths from 1979 through 2007 in New York State
Footnotes:
1. New York State Department of Public Health Website - http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/mortality/suicid.htm
2. New York Times - http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/happiest-places-post-highest-suicide-rates/
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS):
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars
4. Silverman M, et al. The Big Ten Student Suicide Study: A Ten-Year Study of Suicides on Midwestern University Campuses. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior. 1997;27(3)
Pie Chart
Distribution of means of 265 suicide cases in Tompkins County from 1979 – 2010 (total number of cases and percentage). Firearms constitute the major means of suicide (44%), followed by hanging, suffocation, asphyxiation (24%), and poisoning (13%). Jumping accounts for only 11% of suicides.
Comparison of total suicides and jumping suicides per year in Tompkins County (Note: suicides by “Out of County Residents” are not included; 1979 – 2007 data from CDC; 2008-2010* data from Department of Health). Yearly suicide numbers are fluctuating to a large extend. Suicide by jumping accounts for only a minor portion of total suicides.
Graph
Death statistics were acquired from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, www.cdc.gov) using the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC Wonder, http://wonder.cdc.gov). Mortality data for Tompkins County from 1979 – 2007 were obtained using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes; E950-E959 according to ICD-9 (for 1979 - 1998) codes and X60-X84 (intentional self-harm) according to ICD-10 (1999 - 2007). Additional mortality data for 2007 – 2010 were derived from annual reports issued by the Tompkins County Health Department (http://www.tompkins-co.org/health/pnc/annual.htm). Cause of death given in these reports was classified according to ICD-10. It must be noted that data from CDC and annual reports by the Tompkins County Health Department are not identical for the period covered by both institutions (1993 – 2007). For combined data analysis of 265 suicides reported from 1979 – 2010, means of suicide were defined as “poisoning” (E950.0-E950.5, E950.9, X64, X69), „hanging, suffocation, asphyxiation“ (E952.0-1, E953.0-1, X67, X70), „gunshot & firearms“ (E955.0-E955.4, X73-74), „jumping“ (E957.1-2, X80), „other specified means“ (E958.8, X82, E954, X71), and „unspecified means“ (E958.9, E953.9, X84).
To provide some context there were 327 Motor Vehicle Deaths from 1979 through 2007 in Tompkins County.
Means of suicide used in New York State- 1979 through 2007 (from the CDC website http://wonder.cdc.gov/mortSQL.html)
10,865 Firearm (1979-2007)
7,235 Hanging/Strangulation/Suffocation (1979-2007)
5,525 Poisoning/Overdose (1979-2007)
3,208 Jumping from a High Place (1979-2007)
755 Intentional Drowning and Submersion
697 Cutting/Piercing by Sharp Object
1,377 Other Intentional Self-Harm
29,662 total suicides in New York State from 1979 through 2007
To provide some context there were 45,081 Motor Vehicle Deaths from 1979 through 2007 in New York State
Footnotes:
1. New York State Department of Public Health Website - http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/mortality/suicid.htm
2. New York Times - http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/happiest-places-post-highest-suicide-rates/
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS):
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars
4. Silverman M, et al. The Big Ten Student Suicide Study: A Ten-Year Study of Suicides on Midwestern University Campuses. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior. 1997;27(3)