In February, Lane County Public Health published a report on suicides in the area over the past 20 years. The nearly 40-page report has information about trends, mechanisms, demographics and recommendations. Some of the report’s findings paint a grim picture. Between 2000 and 2020, Lane County’s rate of suicide increased by 80%. The suicide rate in the area is 65% greater than the national average. However, the report’s author, Roger Brubaker, hopes the information inspires people to join prevention efforts. It can be challenging to ask people to face an issue so entangled in stigma, mystery and sadness, he said, but confronting the issue is worthwhile. “It’s an opportunity to practice hope,” said Brubaker, suicide prevention coordinator for the county. “Hope cannot just be an attitude. It absolutely must be an action.” 20 years of data The report contains 20 years of data from suicides in the county. It found that between 2000 and 2020, 1,458 people died by suicide in Lane County. The people who died were in all age groups, worked in many different occupations, had various levels of education and dealt with a range of life stressors. Experts can’t point to a single factor that explains […]
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