News Release
October  23, 2007

New UW publication examines complexity of suicide

Does the urge toward suicidal behavior develop from debilitating physical illness, biological mental disorder, traumatic personal crisis, severe depression, alcoholism or genetic predisposition?

The answer is yes and more, according to a new publication available from the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES).

Suicide: What leads people to kill themselves, B-1182, explains factors that increase the risk for suicide, conditions that help describe suicidal thinking, gender differences in suicidal behavior and misconceptions about suicide.

“Every day, 80 people in the United States die from a suicidal act. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of deaths for Americans,” said Randolph Weigel, UW CES human development specialist and author of the publication. “It is even higher for people aged 15-24; as the third leading cause of death, each suicide death intimately affects at least six other people, family members and friends of a loved one who died by suicide.”

Wyoming and the Intermountain West consistently have the highest rate of suicides in the country, said Weigel. In 2003, Wyoming had the highest per capita rate of suicide. Wyoming’s ranking fell to fifth highest in 2004, the most recent year for suicide statistics.

“The intent of this publication is to increase the understanding of suicide in order to be better prepared to prevent even one fatal or nonfatal suicide act,” said Weigel.

The publication can be downloaded at http://ces.uwyo.edu/PUBS/B1182.pdf. A copy can be obtained for $5 by e-mailing the College of Agriculture’s Resource Center at cespubs@uwyo.edu, calling the center at (307) 766-2115, or writing to the University of Wyoming, College of Agriculture, Department 3313, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071

Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Phone: (307) 766-6342
E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu
Archived News Site http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/UWAG/news.asp

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