Leelanau County lowest in the state in per capita suicides

The Record-Eagle - 3/4/2018

March 04--TRAVERSE CITY -- Everyone knows everyone in a small town, as the saying goes.

In Leelanau County, that closeness may add up to the lowest suicide rate in Michigan.

Leelanau ranks 83rd out of the state's 83 counties with its rate of 7.81 suicides per 100,000 people, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control.

Michelle Klein, director of personal health for the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, points to the county's population of 21,765.

"I think there's a stronger sense of community and connectedness in a smaller area than you find in a larger community," Klein said.

That's true whether you're talking about teenagers and young adults, people in their middle years, or those in the senior age bracket, Klein said. Things like smaller schools and smaller gatherings at senior meal sites help people to feel less isolated, she said.

"Research has shown that that sense of community and connectedness is a protective factor when it comes to suicide," she said.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in Michigan, with one person committing suicide every six minutes, according to the CDC. A total of 1,410 people killed themselves in Michigan in 2017, putting the state in 34th place overall.

Firearms accounted for more than half of Michigan's suicide deaths -- 51 percent -- in 2016, with suffocations, including hangings, and poisoning the next most common methods, according to the CDC.

Eric D. LaPaugh, of Empire, is a crisis counselor for Munson Behavioral Health, where he responds to depressed and suicidal people who show up in the emergency room. He also has a private practice where he works with young people.

LaPaugh thinks there are a lot of factors that contribute to the Leelanau County's low suicide rate. One is that it is one of the healthiest counties overall, he said.

In addition to coming in with the lowest suicide rate, the county comes in last in deaths caused by heart disease, lung disease, cancer, flu and pneumonia, according to the CDC.

There is also the fact that people who live there are closer to nature, LaPaugh said.

"We're surrounded by beauty and nature," he said. "And research tells us that living in these kinds of areas reduce our depression, increase our dopamine, which is the good chemical our brains release, and decrease our cortisol, which is the bad chemical our brains release."

LaPaugh also gives credit to the close-knit community that Leelanau is, saying that people get involved right away if there are issues.

"Here we have lots of people willing to help who are close," he said. "We have lots of professionals here, too, that donate their time."

Across the Grand Traverse region, Grand Traverse County's suicide rate places it 57th in the state, Kalkaska County comes in 53rd and Benzie County 51st.

Antrim County -- where the suicide rate of 15.39 is nearly double that of Leelanau County -- ranks 25th.

Dr. Stacey Chipman, chief clinical officer for North Country Community Mental Health, which serves people with anxiety and depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder -- which she said are some of the most severe and persistent mental health disorders.

"Some people don't always know how to get help," Chipman said. "Some people don't know how to reach out or they're afraid to. There's a lot more shame in seeking help for conditions of the brain. It keeps people from getting help."

Third Level Crisis Center in Traverse City offers intervention services for any kind of human crisis, including thoughts of suicide, said Mickie Jannazzo, director of crisis and youth services.

Over the last several years there has been an increase across the country in suicides among working adults, Jannazzo said. A large number of calls that come in on the nonprofit's hotline are from that age group, she said.

"We're very concerned about working age adults," Jannazzo said. "They call us, but not as often as they could."

Third Level does outreach geared toward that age group -- especially men, as statistics show men commit suicide nearly four times more often than women. It also offers suicide prevention workshops that are held in the workplace.

Workshops teach people to recognize the signs that someone is thinking about suicide, how to talk to someone about it and link them with help, Jannazzo said.

Leelanau County Senior Services sponsors lots of social events for older people, but churches and other philanthropic and social organizations play a part, said April Missias, Senior Services director.

"Suicide in older adults can be triggered by depression, loss of independence, feelings of isolation, or the loss of a lifetime partner," Missias said.

When older adults are connected, people who know them can recognize when something is wrong, Missias said.

"The community really rallies around people and tries to support them," she said.

LaPaugh said smaller communities like Leelanau also have prevention- and diversion-type programs that may not be present in larger, urban communities where young people may tend to feel disconnected, LaPaugh said. He is involved in a wellness committee that is being formed in the Glen Lake school district that will look at the social and emotional well-being of students in addition to academics.

One thing he looks for in his work with teenagers is whether they talk about their goals and plans, such as wanting to go to college.

"Kids that are more serious about suicide don't see a future for themselves," LaPaugh said.

Leelanau County has the lowest suicide rate by county in Michigan, with 7.81 suicides per 100,000 people, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control. To compare, Alcona County has the highest rate at 24.88 per 100,000.

United States -- 13.47

Michigan -- 13.29

83. Leelanau -- 7.81

57. Grand Traverse -- 12.97

53. Kalkaska -- 13.23

51. Benzie -- 13.33

25. Antrim -- 15.39

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