Nonfatal suicide attempts and other self-inflicted harm. Beltrami County youths, 2002-2006.
Following a highly publicized murder-suicide by a high school student in Beltrami County, Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health initiated an investigation into suicide attempts and self-inflicted harm (SA/SIH) among youths in the county between 2002 and 2006. This article summarizes the results of that effort, which found an annualized rate of 356 hospital-treated SA/SIH per 100,000 population among Beltrami County residents ages 10 to 24 years--a rate more than 50% higher than that of other youths in Minnesota or the United States. In addition, the rate of SA/SIH for American Indian youths in Beltrami County was 2.5 times higher than that for white youths. An examination of medical history found 52% of the youths in this study had previously attempted suicide. This article also discusses several modifiable risk factors that were identified and potential interventions.
Roesler
Jon
J
Minnesota Department of Health, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division, Center for Health Promotion, Injury and Violence Prevention Unit, USA.
Petcoff
Matthew
M
Azam
Arsalan
A
Westberg
Sara
S
Kinde
Mark
M
Crosby
Alex
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D015994:Incidence; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs