Report: Ottawa County saw more veteran suicides in 2021 than any other year in the past decade
OTTAWA COUNTY — Eight veterans in Ottawa County died by suicide in 2021, more than any other year from 2010-2020.
That's according to the Ottawa County Department of Public Health's Death by Suicide Report, released Wednesday, July 27.
In fact, between 2010 and 2021, veterans had the highest rate of suicide compared to any other group, followed by men, residents over the age of 50 and residents living in the northwest quadrant of the county.
About 12,559 veterans were living in Ottawa County in 2021, the report said — roughly 6 percent of the population. Yet, veterans accounted for 24 percent of all suicides.
The suicide rate among veterans in Ottawa County was 2.6 times higher than the rate among adult non-veterans. Most veterans who died by suicide were white men, 50 years or older, living in the northwest or southwest quadrants of Ottawa County — which includes Holland and Zeeland, plus the townships of Holland, Olive, Park and Port Sheldon.
Most also used a firearm as the means of death. The data suggests more veterans died by suicide in May compared to any other month over the last 12 years, though dates of death showed no evidence of clustering around Memorial Day.
In general, the report said, research found that spring months were associated with higher rates of suicide.
Underlying causes
The report found the most commonly identified circumstances related to suicide in Ottawa County between 2014 and 2019 were:
Current mental health problems (56 percent)
Suicide note or other recorded communication (37 percent)
History of suicidal thoughts/plans (36 percent)
Intimate partner problems (34 percent)
History of mental health/substance abuse treatment (34 percent)
Generally, circumstances identified among Ottawa County residents mirrored data from suicides across the state of Michigan during the same period of time.
Increasing suicides in the Holland area
The report found higher rates of suicide on the west side of Ottawa County, with an increasing trend in death by suicide in the southwest quadrant, which includes Holland and Zeeland.
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Nearly 40 percent of suicides between 2010 and 2021 occurred in the southwest quadrant of the county. Indeed, the southwest quadrant has a higher overall suicide rate, at 11.1 deaths per 100,000 people compared to 9.1 deaths per 100,000 people countywide.
Still, the past eight years have shown a stabilization in the rate of suicide in Ottawa County, with little evidence of an increase or decrease. Since 2000, Ottawa County suicide rates have been consistently lower than Michigan and the United States.
Fewer teen suicides
Over the past decade, Ottawa County saw two or three teen suicides each year. In 2021, there was one teen suicide. No teens aged 13-16 died by suicide in 2021 — the first year without a suicide in that age group since 2013.
The report noted Ottawa County teens reported about the same rates of depression and suicidal behavior pre-pandemic (2019) and during the pandemic (2021).
Given the findings, the report makes a few suggestions for programming, including:
Strengthening prevention efforts in the spring months
Creating programs tailored to veterans, men, residents ages 50 and older, and potentially residents living on the west side of the county
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, call the Ottawa County Community Mental Health Crisis Line at 866-512-4357.
As of July 16, you can also can reach out for help via an easy-to-remember, three-digit dialing code, 988, that takes the place of the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can call or text the number, or chat online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
— Contact reporter Cassandra Lybrink at cassandra.lybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Instagram @BizHolland.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Report finds veterans, white men at higher risk of suicide in Ottawa County
