Suicide in Okanogan County

Suicide affects rural families, neighbors, and communities across Okanogan County. At the May 2021 Okanogan CHI meeting, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shared an overview of data on suicide trends in NCW. A few key findings from the data:

In general: Okanogan (Ok) County  suicide rates are higher than those Washington (WA) State 

• Suicide by mean: More than 60% of suicides in Ok County were firearm-related, a rate that is higher than WA State in general (50%) 

• Suicide by sex:

  • Suicide rates among males were higher than females in Ok County and WA State

  • Both male and female suicide rates were higher in Ok County than in WA State

• Suicide by race/ethnicity:

  • Suicide rates in Ok County was highest among Alaska Indian/American Native populations, followed by White/Non-Hispanic Populations 

  • Both rates were higher in Ok County than in WA State. 

• Suicide by age group:

  • Suicide rates were highest among 25-44 year-olds, followed by 45-64 year-olds in Okanogan.

  • Both rates were higher in Ok County than in WA State.  

2020* compared to 2019: No increase in suicide rates in eiether Ok County or WA State.

*2020 death data are preliminary, as of 5/24/2021. 2020 suicide numbers are expected to change before the data are finalized