IH region second in suicides

Photo: Contributed

The numbers are down slightly province wide, but the Interior Health region has the second highest suicide rate in BC.

According to the BC Coroners Service, there were 572 suicide deaths in 2017, down slightly from the previous three years, which all had more than 600 deaths by suicide.

More than half of those who died by suicide in 2017 were between 30-59 and men accounted for three-quarters of all suicides in that year.

Key findings of this report include:

• The Northern Health Authority had the highest rate of suicide deaths (17.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals), followed by the Interior Health Authority (16.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals).
• The three most common means of suicide death in 2017 were by hanging (225), involving firearms (97) and poisoning (84).
• Rates of suicide deaths are highest in the following health service delivery areas: Northeast (26.8 per 100,000 individuals), Kootenay Boundary (20.7 per 100,000 individuals), Thompson-Cariboo (18.6 per 100,000 individuals), East Kootenay (18.0 per 100,000 individuals) and Northern Interior (16.9 per 100,000 individuals).
• Almost four per cent of the deaths involved children (aged 18 years or younger).

For more information on what services are available or to talk to someone if you are suicidal, click here.