[DHS-Stakeholders] [HSCO] News Release: Preventing suicide among elders

Mon Jun 14 11:15:22 PDT 2004

June 14, 2004

Contact:  Bonnie Widerburg (503) 731-4180
Technical contact: Lisa Millet  (503) 731-4024

DHS launches community meetings; focus is on preventing elder suicides 

A series of six community meetings to focus on preventing suicides among older
Oregonians is being launched this month by the Oregon Department of Human
Services (DHS).  

"Elder suicide is an issue seldom discussed," said Mel Kohn, M.D., state
epidemiologist in DHS.  "Yet, more than 100 of our older residents take their
lives every year.  These deaths touch many Oregonians, because they are our
parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors.  Fortunately, many of these
deaths are preventable."

Kohn said the meetings, set for Baker City, Bend, Eugene, North Bend,
Portland-metro and Rogue River, will raise awareness and provide direction and
input into how to implement key prevention concepts.  The complete meeting
schedule is at the end of this news release.

"Elder suicide can be the result of  depression and other serious issues many
seniors face," Kohn said.  "Our statewide plan will be based on prevention
research and thoughts from community members.  They will be asked to provide
input on how recommended prevention practices can be integrated into existing
systems of service and care." 

Kohn says that Oregon's suicide rate among the elderly is higher than the
national rate.  Data from 2003 compiled by DHS show that:

--Eighty-six percent of elder suicides occurred among males.
--Ninety-nine percent of elder suicides occurred among whites.
--Aging white men had a 10 to 15 times greater suicide rate than that for
women.
--As men age, the death rate by suicide increases dramatically from 38
suicides per 100,000 in the 65-74 age group to 109 suicides per 100,000 inthe
75-84 age group.
--Among women in the 65-74 age group, the rate is 3.3 suicides per 100,000 and
among women in the 75-84 age group, the rate is 7.3 suicides per 100,000. 
--Firearm was the method of death in 78 percent of elder suicides, used in 86
percent of male and 29 percent of female suicides. 

--Depression was reported in 50 percent of male suicides; of those only 20
percent were receiving treatment. Among women, reported depression was 61
percent but 54 percent were receiving treatment. 
--Forty percent of men and six percent of women had visited a physician in the
30 days prior to their deaths.
--Declining health was noted among 60 percent of men and 41 percent of women.
--Loss of autonomy was documented among 40 percent of men and 18 percent of
women.
--Chronic pain was identified among 28 percent of men and 6 percent of women. 
--Isolation or living alone was documented among 26 percent of men and 41
percent of women.

Local organizers are convening the meetings in partnership with DHS.   For
more information about the statewide elder suicide prevention plan, call Lisa
Millet, injury prevention manager in DHS at (503) 731-8597 or
Lisa.M.Millet at state.or.us.  Information is also available on the Web at
www.dhs.state.or.us/publichealth/ipe/.

###

Community Planning Meeting Schedule

Rogue River:  June 16 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Rogue River Community
Annex, 136 Broadway. Local contact is Gary McConahay (541) 474-5365 x2032.

North Bend:  June 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the DHS Seniors and People
with Disabilities office conference room, 3030 Broadway, North Bend. Local
contact is Dianne Devilliers (541) 756-2020.

Portland-metro:  June 23, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at DHS East Multnomah Senior
and Disabled Services office in the Sharon Kelley conference room, 600 N.E.
8th Street in Gresham.  Local contact is Judy Strand (503) 661-5455.

Eugene:  June 25 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Lane County Mental Health, 2411
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.(across from Autzen Stadium) in the Michael Rogers
room #198. Local Contact is Al Levine (541) 682-7520.

Bend:  July 14 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 at Deschutes County Mental Health, 2577 NE
Courtney Ave.  Local contact person is Tim Malone (541) 385-1746.

Baker City:  July 20 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 pm at Community Connections, 2810
Cedar St.  Local contact person is Mary Jo Carpenter (541) 523-6591.

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