• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Suicides top homicides in Wisconsin fourfold

Suicides top homicides in Wisconsin fourfold

August 13, 2014 By Jackie Johnson

Robin Williams

Robin Williams

The death of comedian/actor Robin Williams brings attention to mental illness, especially in Wisconsin where suicides are much higher than homicides.

There are many different types of mental illness, explains Shel Gross, Director of Public Policy for Mental Health America of Wisconsin, ranging from mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder to thought disorders like schizophrenia.

Suicide remains a significant public health burden in Wisconsin, according to a new report recently released by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), in partnership  with the Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and Mental Health America of Wisconsin (MHA).

Gross says there are more suicides than homicides nationwide, and more so in Wisconsin. “Nationally there are twice as many suicides as homicides, but in Wisconsin there are traditionally four to five times as many suicides each year as people who died through homicide.”

Middle age men are more likely to die by suicide than any other demographic, though more females were hospitalized for a self-inflicted injury. The report shows, “of the suicides with known circumstances, 51 percent had a current mental health problem, 35 percent had problems with an intimate partner, 26 percent had an alcohol problem, 23 percent had physical health problems, and 21 percent had job problems.”

The report shows firearms were the most frequently used method to kill oneself in Wisconsin. Williams died by hanging.

During the course of the year, one in four people experience a condition that could be diagnosed as a mental illness — probably someone you know. Gross says some individuals might not acknowledge their mental disorder and simply shy away from treatment for fear of being stigmatized or discriminated against. “So when you have a coworker or a neighbor, maybe you’ve known for a while and you like and you say they’re a nice guy, and they disclose to you ‘Yeah, I’ve been dealing with depression for 15 years’ or ‘I have bipolar but it’s controlled well by medications,’ it sort of changes people’s attitudes about what it means to have a mental illness.”

Mental illness is real; it’s common; and it’s treatable. Sadly, Gross says, many people don’t reach out for treatment. Those who are treated, he says, live with their disorders just as someone would with diabetes and heart disease.

Anyone seeking help for oneself or a friend can call 1-800-273-TALK. Gross says many of the calls made in Wisconsin are answered in the state. PreventSuicideWi.org

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News



Featured Stories

Pro-life groups condemn Kahl lawsuit to overturn 1849 abortion ban

Wisconsin politicians react as SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade

Republicans gavel in and out of special session to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion law

Juneteenth flag raised at Wisconsin Capitol

Gableman invokes 5th amendment, elections probe found in contempt in open records case

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...