Summer Update on Suicide Prevention in NH
HB 1283 Goes To Interim Study, Successfully Stopping Physician-Assisted Suicide Legislation in 2024
The NH Health and Human Services Committee voted to refer HB 1283 for interim study. The NH Senate voted, 17-7, to adopt that recommendation, effectively ending the bill this session. “It’s important to continue to contact legislators to remind them how a physician-assisted suicide bill could negatively impact those most vulnerable to suicide in NH,” says Steve Wade, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of NH and member of the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention.
Annual Suicide Report Shows NH’s Suicide Rates Continue To Decline
According to the Granite State’s recently published 2022 Annual Suicide Report, NH’s suicide rates have continued to decline since 2018. During that year, New Hampshire’s suicide rate stood at 2 per 100 thousand residents. By 2021, that figure had dropped to 1.6 per 100 thousand.
Amy Cook, chair of the suicide prevention council, expressed optimism about this positive trend, emphasizing the hope it brings to the community. "To see the rate drop two points again and again was really hopeful," she said.
However, Cook remains cautious about the potential impact of the ongoing pandemic on mental health. As more data becomes available, there are concerns about the effects of the pandemic on vulnerable populations, such as veterans and LGBTQ+ youth. Cook see the challenges ahead but remains hopeful that the state can maintain its progress toward reducing suicide rates.
New Hampshire health officials say data from the report was compiled jointly by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the State Suicide Prevention Council and the Youth Suicide Prevention Assembly.
NH Women’s Foundation Study Raises Concerns About Mental Health For Girls In NH
The New Hampshire Women's Foundation just released a study examining the status of girls in New Hampshire, focusing on factors such as education, economics, substance abuse and safety. There are alarming results on mental health; more than half of girls in NH reported they have experienced depression. One in three girls has considered ending their own lives.
As far as mental health goes, the results were alarming. More than half of girls in New Hampshire reported that they have experienced depression. One in three girls has considered ending their own lives.
“Jarring” decline in N.H. girls’ mental health, per new report (bostonglobe.com)
Suicide Prevention Signs Proposed At 5 Bridges In Manchester
According to the city of Manchester’s health department, the suicide rate in Manchester was at roughly 18.5 per 100,000 residents between 2018-2022. Officials would like to lower that rate to 12.8, and one proposed initiative is to display suicide prevention signs at 5 Manchester bridges: Queen City Avenue, Granite Street, Bridge Street, South Willow Street and Amoskeag Street.
The health department brought up statistics of concern, saying one out of four high school students in the greater Manchester region have seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021. They told the Board of Alderman that SolutionHealth and Elliot Health System would pay for the signs.
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For more information about the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention, visit our website at:
For more information about joining NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention, contact Robin Schell, NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention, at 603/770-3607 or rschell@jjwpr.com.