Alarming’ suicide rates in northern Ontario, Sudbury health unit says

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Alarming’ suicide rates in northern Ontario, Sudbury health unit says – CBC

by ahnationtalk on October 5, 2023144 Views

Oct 05, 2023

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

The public health unit in Sudbury has revealed that the rate of suicide in the Sudbury area is higher than the provincial average.

According to Public Health Sudbury and Districts, men are more likely to die by suicide than women, and the highest rate of suicide was among people ages 20 to 44 years old.

For Sudbury-Manitoulin, from 2018 to 2022, there were 17.4 deaths per 100,000 population per year. Regionally that number is 18.9.

The rate for Ontario overall, is 11.4 deaths per 100,000, per year.

Erin Ballantyne, public health nurse on the mental health and substance use team, said there are likely several reasons suicide rates in northern communities are “alarmingly” higher than their southern counterparts.

Social isolation, and inhabiting a large, sparse geographical area can create a challenge for people to access mental health services, social housing and substance use supports.