Nonfatal suicide attempts and other self-inflicted harm. Beltrami County youths, 2002-2006

Minn Med. 2009 Aug;92(8):53-5.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Homicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Homicide / trends
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Incidence
  • Indians, North American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Minnesota
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data
  • Suicide, Attempted / trends*
  • Vulnerable Populations / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs