State Lawmakers Look to Address Growing Suicide Rates

State lawmakers look to address growing suicide rates following a recent report from the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.

Representative Ryan Williams said the report will allow officials to determine what areas they need to address to help decrease suicide rates.

“The report gives us a snapshot from the standpoint of suicide rates where the problem areas are or how, in this instance, how big the problem is becoming in the state,” Williams said. “So whenever groups like the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network provide us with information like previous years, it’s good to take a look and analyze what we’re doing not just in our communities, but in our schools across the state when it comes to prevention.”

The report indicates more deaths were caused by suicide in 2017 than motor vehicle accidents, homicide, or HIV. Over 1,100 people committed suicide in Tennessee in 2017, averaging to nearly three instances per day.

Williams said the state faces a tall task in trying to address the issue of suicide prevention through policy and law.

“A lot of times we can do it by rule or by action. I also serve on the child fatality review committee and we actually analyze the child deaths across the state,” Williams said. “The data is interesting. A lot of it has to do with awareness about gun safety, sometimes it’s about continuing education for teachers and having a requirement for them to have some sort of training. Fortunately, most educators seem to have more relationships with students.”

Williams said he looks forward to working with his fellow state representatives to combat the issue and encourages citizens to do their part in helping others who may face tough challenges.

“Different resources and attention definitely need to be added towards trying to combat this issue. I look forward to trying to figure out how to do that,” Williams said. “Make an investment in people. Take time to get to know your friends and neighbors. Go across and shake their hands at the mailbox and get to know them and where they are.”

The Upper Cumberland has the highest rate among all Tennessee regions in suicide-related hospitalizations at 26 people per 100,000 as of 2016.

The report from the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network also indicates men are more likely to commit suicide than women, with nearly two-thirds of all suicides coming by firearm or explosive device.