Suicides in Ohio increased in 2021 after two-year decline, new data show

Nathaniel Shuda and Emily Mills, Akron Beacon Journal
·7 min read

After a two-year decline, newly released data shows suicides in Ohio increased in 2021 from the previous year, the state Department of Health announced Friday.

The state's Suicide Demographics and Trends 2021 report, published Friday, shows there were 1,766 suicides in 2021, an 8% increase from the previous year, according to the state health department.

That number remains below the 10-year high of 1,836 deaths in 2018.

Here are five key findings from the report:

  • Each day, five Ohioans die by suicide, and one youth dies every 34 hours.

  • In 2021, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 10-34 and the 12th-leading cause of death in Ohio overall.

  • White people had the largest increase in suicide rates from 2020 to 2021 at 7%.

  • Adults ages 25-44 had the highest suicide rate in 2021, an increase of 13% from the year before, compared with 5% increases for other age groups.

  • Men 75 and older and women 45-54 had the highest rates of suicides in 2021.

Mental health help in Summit County and Ohio

If you're in crisis, call the Summit County crisis line at 330-434-9144 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 or 1-800-273-8255. The Trevor Project is available at 1-866-488-7386.

Ohio suicide hotline: Ohio's 988 suicide hotline is seeing a spike in calls. How is the state handling it?

Summit County suicide data

The Summit County Suicide Prevention Coalition, which was created in December 2005, works to reduce the number of deaths by suicide in Summit County, especially in the identified high-risk populations of youth, middle-aged men (ages 25-44) and older adults.

The coalition said that 2022 was Summit County’s worst year for Black suicide deaths, with the Black male suicide rate in Summit County at 31.6%.

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According to the suicide deaths data dashboard from the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board and the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office, suicide deaths by year in the county were 91 in 2017, 88 in 2018, 91 in 2019, 91 in 2020, 93 in 2021, 80 in 2022 and 33 so far in 2023 (as of May 11).

The Summit County suicide death rate per 100,000 was 15 in 2017, 13.5 in 2018, 15.3 in 2019, 13.7 in 2020, 15 in 2021 and 13.7 in 2022.

The Black suicide death rate per 100,000 nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022, from 7.9 to 14.7 The increase was largely driven by the male rate, which more than doubled from 12.1 to 26.7.

The Black suicide death rate per 100,000 in recent years was 11.5 in 2017 (19.8 for Black males), 9.1 in 2018 (14.7 for Black males), 5.7 in 2019 (9.8 for Black males), 11.3 in 2020 (21.9 for Black males), 7.9 in 2021 (12.1 for Black males) and 14.7 in 2022 (26.7 for Black males). The Black female suicide death rate per 100,000 has remained relatively low throughout the same time period.

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The white suicide death rate per 100,000 dropped from 16 to 13.4 from 2021 to 2022, with the female rate increasing from 5.5 to 8.3, but the male rate dropping from 27 to 18.8.

The white suicide death rate per 100,000 in recent years was 16.4 in 2017 (25.6 for white males), 14.7 in 2018 (24.8 for white males), 16.8 in 2019 (27.8 for white males), 14.8 in 2020 (20.7 for white males), 16 in 2021 (27 for white males) and 13.4 in 2022 (18.8 for white males). The white female suicide death rate per 100,000 has remained relatively low throughout the same time period.

According to the dashboard, death rates are used instead of counts because they allow for comparison of the level of impact in different sized populations.

"Suicide is preventable and everyone has a role to play to save lives and create healthy and strong individuals, families, and communities," the Summit County Suicide Prevention Coalition said in a statement.

What is Ohio doing to prevent suicides?

RecoveryOhio and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services partnered with The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation in 2021 to create The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio.

Since then, the state has done the following to address the issue:

Gov. Mike DeWine included the following in his 2024-25 budget proposal.

  • $8 million a year for the next two years to continue and expand prevention programs and strategies.

  • $100 million to create a State of Ohio Action for Resiliency Network to develop, evaluate and implement strategies.

  • $50 million for pediatric behavioral health workforce, integrating behavioral and primary health and developing Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities.

The Summit County Suicide Prevention Coalition offers free training and consultation for community groups to raise awareness of suicide as a public health issue and to educate the public about how to recognize and respond to someone who needs help. To arrange for an educational program on suicide prevention, contact preventsuicide@admboard.org or call 330-376-9494 x211.

Suicide risk factors and warning signs

According to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, there are several risk factors and warning signs for suicide.

The organization says that risk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that someone will consider, attempt or die by suicide. They can't cause or predict a suicide attempt, but they're important to be aware of, the lifeline said. They include:

  • Mental disorders, particularly mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and certain personality disorders

  • Alcohol and other substance use disorders

  • Hopelessness

  • Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies

  • History of trauma or abuse

  • Major physical illnesses

  • Previous suicide attempt(s)

  • Family history of suicide

  • Job or financial loss

  • Loss of relationship(s)

  • Easy access to lethal means

  • Local clusters of suicide

  • Lack of social support and sense of isolation

  • Stigma associated with asking for help

  • Lack of healthcare, especially mental health and substance abuse treatment

  • Cultural and religious beliefs, such as the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma

  • Exposure to others who have died by suicide (in real life or via the media and Internet)

The lifeline said that some warning signs may help you determine if a loved one is at risk for suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased or seems related to a painful event, loss or change. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these warning signs, listed below, seek help by calling the lifeline, the organization said.

  • Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves

  • Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun

  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live

  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

  • Talking about being a burden to others

  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs

  • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly

  • Sleeping too little or too much

  • Withdrawing or isolating themselves

  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

  • Extreme mood swings

Contact Columbus Dispatch reporter at Nathaniel Shuda at nshuda@dispatch.com and on Twitter @NathanielShuda. Contact Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills at emills@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter @EmilyMills818.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Suicides in Ohio increased in 2021 after two-year decline, data show