COLUMBUS – After a two-year decline, the number of suicide deaths in Ohio increased in 2021 by 8% over the previous year, according to a report from the state.
The 1,766 suicides in 2021 remained below the 10-year high of over 1,800 deaths in 2018, according to the Ohio Department of Health Suicide Demographics and Trends 2021 report, released Friday.
In 2021, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among Ohioans 10-34 years of age. Five Ohioans die by suicide every day, and one youth dies every 34 hours, the department says.
Officials hope the new 3-digit 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, launched last July, will help the numbers decline again. Ohio’s 988 call centers have responded to more than 10,000 calls, chats and texts per month from residents of all 88 counties, ODH director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said.
Governor Mike DeWine’s budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal biennium includes $46.5 million for the hotline’s continued operation.
DeWine’s budget proposal addresses mental health by calling for a total of $158 million over the next two fiscal years to expand suicide prevention programs outlined in the administration’s 2020 Suicide Prevention Plan, the creation of an innovative State of Ohio Action for Resiliency – or SOAR — Network to develop strategies to address addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery and other mental health initiatives.