Suicide Rate Drops In Santa Clara County

SAN JOSE, CA — While the number continue to rise nationally, the suicide rate in Santa Clara County has witnessed a slight drop for the third consecutive year, according to a county report.

The report details the county experienced 6.95 suicides for every 100,000 people, following 6.98 reported the year before and 7.77 in 2015.

Meanwhile, 45,000 Americans aging 10 and older took their lives in 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and is one of just three leading causes that are on the rise.

The welcome drop in the South Bay has been attributed to a long list of programs designed to prevent them, including a mobile crisis response team, additional training and the promotion of how to store guns properly.

There were 6.95 suicides in the county for every 100,000 people in 2017, 6.98 in 2016 and 7.77 in 2015. The state rate is 10.5, compared to 10.5 the previous year, and the nationwide rate is 14, compared to 13 in 2016.

"Suicide is rarely caused by a single factor," county officials said in a statement, further citing effectiveness in not just one solution.

The county initiatives are targetting high risk groups such as middle-aged and older men, adolescents and young adults. The county also expanded its mobile crisis response team. This places those at risk in front of mental health professionals.

Last fall, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department launched an open data portal to track trends regarding suicide.

A toll-free suicide and crisis hotline may be accessed 24 hours by calling 855-278-4204, while additional services can be tapped into at https://www.sccgov.org/sites/bhd/services/sp/pages/default.aspx.