Illinois

Central Illinois Has High Suicide Rates, But There's A Plan To Help

WCBU | By Tim Shelley

Published November 18, 2019 at 4:57 PM CST

The Partnership for a Healthy Community wants to lower the Tri-County suicide rate by 10 percent over the next three years.

Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties have higher suicide rates than the state average of 11.4 suicides per 100,000 people. From 2012 to 2016, Peoria County had a rate of 12.4 per 100,000, and Tazewell had 13.5. Woodford was more than double the state average, at 23.5 per 100,000 people.

More than 80 percent of people taking their own lives were over the age of 20, and the majority are white men. Firearm-related deaths were the number one cause of suicide in 2016.

Monica Hendrickson is the Peoria City/County Health Department administrator.

"When you're talking to your primary provider, or your PCP, or actually any provider, that they're making sure that they're able to refer and ask those questions and provide you with resources, depending on what comes from that conversation," she said.

In the Community Health Needs Assessment, 46 percent of respondents said they felt depressed at least 1 or 2 days in the past 30. Nine percent said they were depressed for five or more days. 40 percent reported stress or anxiety, with 7 percent saying they felt stressed or anxious more than 5 days a month.

Hendrickson said expanding mental health first aid and implementing universal suicide awareness education in schools. She said these programs can also help reduce the stigma against seeking help.

Mental health was identified as an important need in the Tri-County area by 69 percent of respondents to the survey. Three other areas of focus include substance abuse, cancer, and healthy eating.

The plan also calls for boosting certifications by 10 percent, and increasing the number of qualified providers in healthcare settings by 10 percent over the next three years.

The Partnership for a Healthy Community includes the three county health departments, OSF HealthCare, UnityPoint, Advocate Eureka Hospital and Hopedale Medical Complex, as well as other organizations in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties.