Stefan Gingerich

You know, the pessimistic side of me looks at 2022 and the preliminary numbers already show us the highest number of suicide deaths in Minnesota of any year in the past 20 years and probably decades before that. There were 835 suicide deaths in Minnesota in 2022. And that, like I said, works out to a rate, a preliminary rate of 14.3 per 100,000, which...

You know, the pessimistic side of me looks at 2022 and the preliminary numbers already show us the highest number of suicide deaths in Minnesota of any year in the past 20 years and probably decades before that. There were 835 suicide deaths in Minnesota in 2022. And that, like I said, works out to a rate, a preliminary rate of 14.3 per 100,000, which...

I'm expecting will increase to be the highest rate that we've had in state history.

I'm expecting will increase to be the highest rate that we've had in state history.

So at this point, with 988 launched really in full force less than a year ago, that data has not been analyzed to look at the prevention aspect and how many actually enumerate the number of cases we might have prevented. I think the other complicating factor is that the profile, the sort of the epidemiological background of the people who tend to call those numbers

So at this point, with 988 launched really in full force less than a year ago, that data has not been analyzed to look at the prevention aspect and how many actually enumerate the number of cases we might have prevented. I think the other complicating factor is that the profile, the sort of the epidemiological background of the people who tend to call those numbers

And the people who are treated in hospitals for suicide ideation and non-fatal suicide attempts is very different from that of those who die by suicide. And I can talk about that a little bit, but I want to invite Clarence in because you mentioned him chiming in on that as well.

And the people who are treated in hospitals for suicide ideation and non-fatal suicide attempts is very different from that of those who die by suicide. And I can talk about that a little bit, but I want to invite Clarence in because you mentioned him chiming in on that as well.

Yeah, so I've heard a number of different theories just sort of passed around. And I think as years go by, as more data comes through from the pandemic and from years after as well, because there was the pandemic and then we're coming out of the sort of emergency phase of the pandemic now. As those things start to shift, then we have better comparisons.

Yeah, so I've heard a number of different theories just sort of passed around. And I think as years go by, as more data comes through from the pandemic and from years after as well, because there was the pandemic and then we're coming out of the sort of emergency phase of the pandemic now. As those things start to shift, then we have better comparisons.

A few of the different hypotheses that I've heard are related to having a common enemy. So as COVID reared its ugly head, everybody could focus on, you know, blaming things on the virus as opposed to internalizing whatever is happening in your life and saying, well, you know, I'm super stressed right now and I'm depressed right now and I lost my job. but that's because of COVID.

A few of the different hypotheses that I've heard are related to having a common enemy. So as COVID reared its ugly head, everybody could focus on, you know, blaming things on the virus as opposed to internalizing whatever is happening in your life and saying, well, you know, I'm super stressed right now and I'm depressed right now and I lost my job. but that's because of COVID.

It's not because of anything reflective of myself. So that's one theory. Other theories, when I look at the age distribution of what happened in 2018 and 19 and 2020, every age group under the age of 65 in Minnesota had a lower suicide rate in 2020 than in 2019. Every age group over 65 had a higher suicide rate in 2020 than 2019.

It's not because of anything reflective of myself. So that's one theory. Other theories, when I look at the age distribution of what happened in 2018 and 19 and 2020, every age group under the age of 65 in Minnesota had a lower suicide rate in 2020 than in 2019. Every age group over 65 had a higher suicide rate in 2020 than 2019.

And so that gives me at least some clues in terms of, you know, I think about isolation and not just like physical isolation, but also the resulting social isolation where it's possible that people over 65 who are higher risk for COVID complications and death may have isolated themselves more And we know that isolation, lack of social connection is a risk factor for suicide and suicide thoughts.

And so that gives me at least some clues in terms of, you know, I think about isolation and not just like physical isolation, but also the resulting social isolation where it's possible that people over 65 who are higher risk for COVID complications and death may have isolated themselves more And we know that isolation, lack of social connection is a risk factor for suicide and suicide thoughts.

The other aspect of it is, you know, if you're living alone and, you know, it's possible that people over 65 are more likely to live alone, you may have more opportunities to cause self-harm, to attempt suicide than if you're living alone. in a family household where you've got young children or teenagers around. And we know that schools were closed. So kids were at home all the time.

The other aspect of it is, you know, if you're living alone and, you know, it's possible that people over 65 are more likely to live alone, you may have more opportunities to cause self-harm, to attempt suicide than if you're living alone. in a family household where you've got young children or teenagers around. And we know that schools were closed. So kids were at home all the time.

Parents were less likely to be at home alone. So there was more at home time. So that may have contributed to fewer opportunities, as well as just a growing awareness that if you're spending more time with your teenager, or if you're spending more time with your spouse, or your boyfriend, your girlfriend, whoever it is that you're living with,

Parents were less likely to be at home alone. So there was more at home time. So that may have contributed to fewer opportunities, as well as just a growing awareness that if you're spending more time with your teenager, or if you're spending more time with your spouse, or your boyfriend, your girlfriend, whoever it is that you're living with,