A new report from the Centers for Disease Control says suicide rates are increasing nationwide, and Kansas had the fifth highest increase. In Kansas, suicides rose 45 percent from 1999 through 2016. Missouri’s increase was 36 percent.
Andy Brown, with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, says watching for warning signs can help prevent suicides. Those signs include hopelessness, acting reckless or withdrawing from friends and family.
“If your gut tells you that you’re concerned about somebody else, it’s a good idea to ask them if they’re doing OK and then be prepared to have a conversation with them about what kinds of help they might be able to access,” he says.
The report doesn’t offer theories on why the rates are increasing. The study found that more than half the people who died from suicide did not have a known mental health condition.
Firearms were used in almost half of suicides.
Suicide prevention resources are available from Kansas Prevention Collaborative and the Kansas Suicide Prevention Resource Center.