There were 572 deaths by suicide in 2017, down slightly from the previous three years, which all reported more than 600 deaths by suicide, according to a report of BC Coroners Service on suicide deaths in BC updated to the end of 2017.
More than half of those who died by suicide in 2017 were aged 30-59 years old. The highest age-specific suicide death rate was among 40-49-year-olds (16 deaths per 100,000 people in the age group).
Males accounted for 75% of suicide deaths in 2017.
The three most common means of suicide death in 2017 were by hanging (225), involving firearms (97) and poisoning (84).
The Northern Health Authority had the highest rate of suicide deaths (17.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals), followed by the Interior Health Authority (16.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals).
Rates of suicide deaths are highest in the following health service delivery areas: Northeast (26.8 per 100,000 individuals), Kootenay Boundary (20.7 per 100,000 individuals), Thompson-Cariboo (18.6 per 100,000 individuals), East Kootenay (18.0 per 100,000 individuals) and Northern Interior (16.9 per 100,000 individuals).
Almost 4% of the deaths involved children (aged 18 years or younger).
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