Suicide Rate In Ohio: 5 People Die By Suicide Daily

COLUMBUS, OH — Every 33 hours, a young person in Ohio dies by suicide, according to a new report by the Ohio Department of Health. Suicide deaths among Ohioans increased 45 percent between 2007 and 2018, and jumped 56 percent among Ohio youth during that time span.

Last year, there were 1,836 suicides in Ohio. The highest suicide rate was among adults, 45-64 years old. Men are nearly four times more likely to commit suicide than women, the Ohio Department of Health report noted. Suicide is also a leading cause of death for young people.

Ohio has seen its suicide rate steadily ascend over the past few years, the report noted. At least 1,500 people have committed suicide in Ohio since 2015, with the number of suicides growing each year from 2015 to 2018.

“Suicide in Ohio and nationally is a growing public health epidemic, particularly among young people,” said ODH Director Dr. Amy Acton. “Suicide is the leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 10‐14 and the second leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 15‐34.”

Geographically, suicide rates are highest in the southern portions of Ohio. The counties with the highest suicide rate, per 100,000 residents, were: Adams, Brown, Pike, Jackson, Gallia, Meigs, Huron, Stark, Trumbull, Ashtabula, Logan, Paulding and Fulton. Nearly all of the counties with the highest suicide rates are largely rural areas.

Meigs County had the highest suicide rate between 2007 and 2018. For every 100,000 residents in Meigs, nearly 24 died by suicide.

There are several resources for anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide. The National Suicide Hotline is always available at 1-800-273-8255. A list of suicide hotlines active in Ohio can be found online.

The RecoveryOhio initiative maintains a list of resources and information available to Ohioans, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services offers suicide prevention information and resources.

“One of the goals of my RecoveryOhio initiative is to address mental illness and other issues that contribute to suicide,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “If you know someone is struggling, you may be able to help save someone’s life by recognizing the warning signs and steps to take.”

To see the entire report on Ohio's suicide rate, visit the Ohio Department of Health website.