APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) — The number of suicides in the Fox Valley is up.
The latest data, compiled as part of the Fox Cities LIFE Study, shows that the suicide rate in 2018 bumped up from numbers gathered in 2016 and 2014.
“The rate has increased from about eight [suicides] per 100,000 people in 2016 to almost 18 in 2018,” Tony Gonzales, Vice President Community Development at the United Way, told WTAQ.
There’s one demographic in particular that’s been harder hit than others.
“Men,” said Prevent Suicide Fox Cities board chair Cindy Reffke. “Middle aged men are at the highest risk of suicide.”
Men between the ages of 59-65 saw an increase in suicide rate during the period measured–and that held true across the entire state of Wisconsin. Farmers, too, saw an increase in suicide.
The rise, however, has not been consistent. Reffke says 2018’s numbers were actually down from record-high numbers reported in 2017. 2017 saw 918 suicides in the state of Wisconsin. That went down to 887.
The numbers, which are compiled by the LIFE study every other year, come long before the mental toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Reffke says so far that hasn’t made an impact.
“We’re not seeing increases in suicide,” said Reffke. “[But] we may be seeing increases in sadness, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.”
Reffke says that might be due to people spending more time with their families.
The suicide rate in Calumet County increased from 7.9 in 2016 to 17.5 in 2018 (per 100,000), Outagamie County increased from 14.2 in 2016 to 19.6 in 2018, and Winnebago County increased from 17.7 in 2016 to 21.3 in 2018.
The full results of the study can be found here.
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