Connecticut State Department of Public Health

 

 

Violence related deaths and injuries are described as intentional and include homicides, assaults, suicide, suicide attempts, domestic violence, child abuse and sexual violence. In Connecticut, suicide is the leading causes of death for person ages 45 to 54 and lowest in age group 15 to 19 years.

The Office of Injury Prevention works collaboratively with others working on intentional injury and related issues such as the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB) and the Child Maltreatment Domestic Violence Collaborative. 

 

SUICIDE AND SELF-INFLICTED INJURY

Suicide is the leading cause of injury death in Connecticut. The suicide rate for the state is highest for persons 45 to 54 years of age and lowest for the age group 15 to 19 years. According to the 2011 Connecticut School Health Survey, 1 in 7 students in grades 9 through 12 said they seriously considered attempting suicide during the previous 12 months. However, the proportion of students in grades 9 through 12 who reported that they attempted suicide one or more times in the past year dropped from 12.1% in 2005 to 6.7% in 2011.

Data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner show that in Connecticut, from 2007 to 2012, there were about 1,988 deaths due to suicide. From 2007 to 2013 there were 9,576 hospital in-patient discharges; 8,767 were suicides by prescription drug overdose.  Evidence suggests that suicide and self-inflicted injury are closely linked to depression and other mental health issues. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) supports the general principles outlined in the Connecticut Suicide Prevention Plan 2020 that promote awareness of suicide and reduce factors that increase the risks.

 

Listed below are some of the DPH strategic areas of focus:

 

Increasing the ability to recognize and respond to individuals at risk;

Increasing help-seeking behavior of individuals and gatekeepers;

Identifying and providing behavioral health services through collaboration with the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Service;

Develop and follow crisis management procedures;

Restricting access to potentially lethal means (prescription drugs);

Develop life skills that enhance protective factors; and

Promoting social networks

 

Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB)

The CTSAB is a network of diverse advocates, educators and leaders concerned with addressing the problem of suicide with a focus on prevention, intervention, and health and wellness promotion. CTSAB is a much broader coalition than the previous Interagency Suicide Prevention Network (ISPN), representing a wide mix of public state agencies, private not for profits, professions, survivors, veterans, military, clergy, schools, universities, health care agencies, police, and communities.
Prior to the creation of the board, the ISPN was a collaboration of representatives from state agencies and other agencies/constituencies initiated as a follow up to the Northeast Injury Prevention Network Invitational Suicide Prevention Planning Conference held in June of 2000. The ISPN eventually completed and produced in 2005 the Connecticut Comprehensive suicide Plan.
Recently, the CTSAB released the State of Connecticut Suicide Prevention Plan 2020.

 

Link: http://www.preventsuicidect.org/about-us/

 

VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE

Youth violence prevention program contracted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) focuses on increasing knowledge and changing behaviors that are manageable within the limited scope and influence of the program. Program goals include recognizing and dealing appropriately with anger, conflicts, peer-to-peer relationships; increasing knowledge regarding the impact of, and risk factors, for violent behavior; decreasing arguments and fighting and providing knowledge of appropriate resources for help.  Youth violence prevention program focuses on middle and high-school aged youths and are conducted primarily during out of school hours.
According to the recently released State Health Assessment (SHA 2014), homicide rate from 2006 to 2010 combined was highest for persons 20 to 24 years of age (12.8 deaths per 100,000 population), followed by those 25 to 34 years of age (8.6 deaths per 100,000 population) and 15 to 19 years of age (5.5 deaths per 100,000 population).

 

Sexual Violence Prevention

 

 

For more information, please call

The Office of Injury Prevention
(860) 509-8251