Suicide rates in Butte County exceed California average

The numbers of male suicides vs female suicides in Butte County are larger than those in California and the U.S. (Source)

Butte County has a higher suicide rate than the California average, these suicides are often under-reported and men are more likely to take their own lives.


According to the Butte County Health Assessment 2015-2017, the county reported 45 suicides a year, on average, between 2009 and 2011. That’s more than twice the rate for the state overall.


The number of suicide deaths and hospitalizations due to self-inflicted injury in Butte County compared to the overall number in California in the year 2010. (Source)

The assessment also reports that the number of suicides is typically underreported.

“It is likely that the number of suicides reported each year is lower than the actual number that occurs due to the negative social stigma associated with committing suicide,” according to a Butte County Health Assessment Report.



The report also states that men are more likely to die by suicide, but women are more likely to report attempting suicide.

“In Butte County, the suicide rate among men is significantly higher than women. However, both men and women in Butte County have higher suicide rates than California overall and the United States,” according to a Butte County Health Assessment Report.

One of the main reasons for such a major difference between male and female suicide rates is because men are more likely to attempt suicide by gunshot, which results in death more frequently, and women are more likely to end up hospitalized after reporting an attempted suicide.


Butte County deaths attributed to suicide and hospitalization because of self-inflicted injury broken down by types of methods in the years 2009-2011. (Source)

Suicide is the No. 2 cause of death for Americans ages 15-34, according to 2013 data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the No. 10 cause overall for all age groups.

Suicide clusters

Earlier this year, the CDC launched an investigation in Santa Clara County to learn more about two suicide clusters that occurred in the area between 2009 and 2015.



Between May 2009 and January 2010, five students in the Palo Alto Unified School District jumped in front of commuter trains, and between 2014 and 2015 another four teens died by suicide in what the CDC now calls an “echo or secondary cluster.”  

“Suicide can occur across the lifespan,” said Courtney Lenard, health communication specialist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Suicide clusters are uncommon but are a great concern to communities and have been identified among youth and young adults.”

She also said, the CDC’s investigations are mainly focused on suicidal behaviors among youth, and they are currently not examining suicides in other California counties.


The media and suicide clusters

More than 50 research studies worldwide have found that certain types of news coverage can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals, according to a website developed to help report on suicides.

How the media covers suicides has a lot to do with the formation of suicide clusters, according to the reports.

The CDC has published a series of recommendations to help reduce the likelihood of clusters developing. They include:
  • reducing the time of a suicide coverage
  • encouraging those who are vulnerable or at risk to seek help
  • not releasing explicit details of suicide methods, images and dramatic or graphic headlines.

“Media coverage that provides details about suicide methods has the potential to increase contagion among vulnerable individuals,” said Lenard of the National Center of Injury Prevention and Control.

She also said, increasing training to help members of the community recognize risk factors will help reduce stigma and other barriers to seek help, and researchers hope that this will enhance awareness and show the community that suicide is preventable.

The CDC encourages people to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) if someone needs help or wants to talk. Calling is free, confidential and the caller will be connected to a trained counselor in their area.

By Jovanna Garcia

Jovanna Garcia

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