Added on June 10, 2024 Sara Swanson

Manchester’s suicide rate drops, but still highest in county

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by Sara Swanson

The Washtenaw County Health Department has released a new Suicide Report detailing local suicide data trends through 2023. Read the report at https://bit.ly/sr529. Overall Washtenaw County suicide death rates suggest a promising decrease in recent years and overall the suicide rate among Washtenaw County residents continues to remain below both the Michigan and national suicide completion rates. However, Manchester’s suicide completion rate is above Michigan’s and the nation’s averages, and is the highest in the county.

Washtenaw’s overall suicide rate for the 2020–2022 period was 12.4 suicides per 100,000 population, down from their 2019–2020 rate of 12.8 suicides per 100,000. Manchester’s 2020–2022 rate was 18.2 suicides per 100,000 population. On a positive note, Manchester’s rate is down from 22.4 suicides per 100,000 population, our 2019–2020 rate, by far the highest in the county for that period. For comparison, the lowest suicide rate for the 2020–2022 period was Chelsea with 7.5 suicides per 100,000 population. Though lower than Manchester’s, Ypsilanti and Whitmore Lake both are higher than the county average rates as well.

The county has been actively working in the Manchester area to lower the suicide rate through Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) services. Although she couldn’t provide numbers specifically for Manchester as we are combined with Chelsea, Dexter, and Stockbridge in the data, Lisa Gentz, program administrator for WCCMH, provided data showing they had been seeing clients and providing support with a crisis team in the western zip codes since 2019. And, for example, there were 73 crisis team contacts (face-to-face engagements) and 330 CARES clients seen in the western zip codes in 2023. Both of these mental health services are funded the County’s Mental Health & Public Safety Millage which has been heavily discussed in recent weeks.

Gentz added, "We are doing some targeted interventions in the western region to support the unique needs of those communities in partnership with the 5 Healthy Towns foundation, Michigan Medicine and Trinity Health. This includes a multi-pronged plan to address key aspects that are in play including addressing social isolation, barriers to accessing care (this includes transportation, housing, access to health care) and Substance use and co-occurring mental health and substance use needs.”

Addressing Manchester’s suicide rate compared to the rest of the county’s, she stated, “I don’t know the reason why we are seeing [a higher rate of] suicide in the western region but we do know there are numerous barriers for the Manchester community to engage in treatment which the [partnership] is trying to address. I also think it should be noted that suicide rates are climbing nation wide which is why initiatives that the mental health millage supports are so important now more than ever!”

There is a second organization working to prevent suicide in Manchester. SRSLY Manchester is a youth substance prevention coalition dedicated to promoting mental health awareness through advocacy, campaigns, and engaging, inclusive events for students in the community. While they don't directly provide mental health services, they hold bi-weekly student meetings that empower students to, in their own words, ”create, plan, and implement activities focused on substance prevention and mental health initiatives.” Additionally, they offer weekly meetings for fifth and sixth graders to help develop leadership skills and healthy coping mechanisms.

Alexandra Duranczyk, Coalition Director for SRSLY Manchester stated, “We believe that by offering these opportunities, students can thrive in a safe space where they can express their authentic selves, have a voice in bridging gaps in their community, and provide support for their peers. By fostering protective factors and providing healthy coping mechanisms, we contribute to suicide prevention and the overall well-being of our students.” For more information on SRSLY Manchester or ways to be involved please visit srslymanchester.org or email Duranczyk directly at alexandra.duranczyk@trinity-health.org.

Duranczyk added that in addition to the work being done with SRSLY Manchester, Chelsea Hospital was awarded a grant in 2021 to provide the community suicide prevention trainings and resource sharing. These trainings are available to adults and teens who work with youth, parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teens themselves. The available trainings include:

Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR): Participants learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to receive help. It is designed to provide practical skills for saving lives.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA): This program is specifically aimed at adults who interact with young people. It covers how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in youth.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): Suitable for a general audience, this training provides the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Participants learn risk factors and warning signs, strategies for helping in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
Teen Mental Health First Aid (TMHFA): This training is targeted at teens, equipping them with the knowledge to support their peers facing mental health challenges. It focuses on how to recognize mental health problems and provide initial help until appropriate adult or professional assistance is available.

For upcoming trainings and more mental health resources please email Sarah Wilczynksi, MHAT Program Coordinator at sarah.wilczynski@trinity-health.org.

Chelsea Hospital also offers Behavioral Health Navigators who can connect you with resources tailored to your individual needs and help you develop a detailed plan of action at no charge. They can assist you in finding therapists, psychiatrists, support groups, and more. To connect with a Behavioral Health Navigator, contact: Anna Webber, LMSW: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 734-904-6937, or Kathy Walz, LMSW, CPC: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 734-680-5312.

Susan Ringler Cerniglia, Washtenaw County Health Department administrator, acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to do. She stated, “The Health Department fully supports the work and investments happening with mental health. Over time, we’ve only seen trends going in the wrong direction with mental health needs locally, and it will take more time and continue investments to see the benefits of current initiatives as well as reversing current trends of increased mental health needs.”

Suicide is preventable and help is available. Anyone in Washtenaw County can call the Community Mental Health CARES team 24/7 with any mental health questions or concerns: 734-544-3050. If you feel suicidal, call 988, text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/chat/ for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HELLO to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

It’s important to know the warning signs for those at risk of suicide, including: talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless or having no purpose, feeling trapped or in unbearable pain, or being a burden to others, looking for a way to kill oneself, increasing the use of alcohol or drugs, acting anxious, agitated, or recklessly, sleeping too little or too much, withdrawing or feeling isolated, showing rage or talking about seeking revenge, and displaying extreme mood swings. If someone you know shows warning signs of suicide, assume you are the only one who will reach out. Take them seriously, talk to them in private, and ask directly if they are thinking about suicide.