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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Zi Zhang, MD, MPH¹, Holly Hackman, MD, MPH², Esther Kang¹, and Alan Holmlund, MSW². (1) Health Survey Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02108, (617) 624-5623, Zi.Zhang@state.ma.us, (2) Injury Prevention and Control Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02108

Purposes: Data on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adults are sparse, particularly from a population-based perspective. We examine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts with and without injuries among adults in Massachusetts and explore the correlates associated with these events using data from a population-based survey.

Methods: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is an ongoing random-digit-dial telephone survey of adults ages 18 years or over. Suicide-related questions were added to the 2004 Massachusetts BRFSS. Respondents were asked “During the past 12 months, did you ever seriously consider attempting suicide?” Those who answered “Yes” were asked if they actually attempted suicide and if it resulted in an injury or illness that required treatment by a health care professional. Correlates of suicidal ideation were examined.

Results: In 2004, approximately 2.78% or 139,000 Massachusetts adults seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months; out of which, 84% sought help. About 0.57% or 28,500 adults reported making an actual attempt in the past 12 months; 0.13% or 6,500 adults attempted suicide that resulted in injury or illness. Women were more than three times as likely to attempt suicide than were men. Respondents with self-reported fair or poor health status, poor physical and mental health or with a disability were more likely to report having suicidal ideation.

Conclusions: BRFSS can provide population-based data on suicidal ideation and attempts that are otherwise not available from the traditional surveillance systems. These data are critical for informing prevention efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• - To learn how to use a population-based survey to estimate suicidal ideation and suicide attempts
• - To examine correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts

Keywords: Suicide, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered