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Youth Suicide Prevention

Current Work

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is working with partners to build out the strategic pathways in Oregon's suicide prevention framework. Learn more about priority work planned for 2024.

This work advances the Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Plan (YSIPP), which OHA updates every five years.

Oregon's Progress

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released finalized data for 2021. The data show:
  • A three-year decrease in youth suicides (24 and younger) in Oregon. There were fewer total deaths and a lower rate in 2019, 2020 and 2021. This marks a 26 percent decrease in the number of suicide deaths among youth from a peak in 2018 when 129 youth died by suicide.
  • 95 Oregon youths died by suicide in 2021. Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among people ages five to 24.
  • A 27 percent decrease in suicide rate from 2018-2021. But there are racial disparities in the data. Specifically, the number of deaths by suicide for youth identified as white have fallen. Yet the number of suicides for youth of other races and ethnicities remain at or above 2018 levels.
  • Oregon had the 22nd highest youth suicide rate in the United States, down from the 11th highest in 2018.
  • Oregon’s rate of youth suicide in 2021 was 12.4 per 100,000. In 2018, Oregon’s rate was 16.9 per 100,000. This remains above the national average (11.0 per 100,000).
The risk of youth suicide continues to be a concern in Oregon. Preliminary data for 2022 will not be official until spring 2024 when the CDC releases finalized data. But these data show that Oregon will not see further decrease in youth suicide rates. There is more work to do to ensure our progress continues.

Starting in 2014, and with additional investment in 2019, the Oregon Legislature commissioned the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to:​

For a brief history and summary of suicide prevention laws in Oregon, please visit the Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide’s legislative summary page.​


​In 2019, the rate of youth suicide in Oregon decreased from the prior year for the first time since 2015. Oregon is now experiencing its first three-year decrease in youth suicide fatalities since 2001. 

To learn more about Oregon's progress meeting the goals of the YSIPP, read OHA's Youth Suicide Annual Reports:

Senate Bill 561 (2015) requires Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) as defined in ORS 430.630 to do the following when suicides occur in youth (age 24 years or younger):

  • Work with partners to develop plans for information-sharing and response;
  • Prepare communities to respond in a way that reduces the risk of more suicide (contagion) among friends, loved ones or peers left behind after the death; and 
  • Report deaths to OHA within 7 days of death. OHA can  then provide technical assistance on best practices in responding to suicides and reducing contagion risks.

Resources



​A competent and confident behavioral and physical health care workforce can ensure:

  • Early identification of suicide risk and 
  • Use of evidence-informed strategies to address the needs of suicidal individuals. 

60 to 70 percent of individuals who die by suicide see a medical or behavioral health care professional in the year before death.

Senate Bill 48 (2017) was designed to support the behavioral and physical healthcare workforce. It does this by promoting continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment and management.

OHA has compiled a list of continuing education courses for consideration. 

  • OHA does not endorse or approve these courses.
  • Licensees should contact their licensing boards (listed below) to determine if a class meets their board’s criteria for approved continuing education credits.

Reporting​ requirements

SB 48 requires providers licensed by the following agencies to report any suicide assessment, treatment and management continuing education they’ve taken.

The Oregon Medical Board and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission survey their providers. OHA surveys providers licensed by other boards at re-licensure as part of the Health Care Workforce Reporting program. OHA compiles and reports this information to the Oregon legislature each even-numbered year.

Continuing educati​on requirements effective July 1, 2022

Starting July 1, 2022, House Bill 2315 (2021) requires providers in the behavioral healthcare workforce to complete continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment and management for relicensure.  Oregon Administrative Rules and an implementation plan are currently under development.​

HB 2315 requires 2 hours every two years or 3 hours every three years of continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment and management for the following license categories:

  • A clinical social worker, as defined in ORS 675.510;
  • A regulated social worker, as defined in ORS 675.510;
  • A licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined in ORS 675.705;
  • A licensed psychologist, as defined in ORS 675.010;
  • A licensed professional counselor, as defined in ORS 675.705;
  • A school counselor, as defined by rule by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission;
  • A qualified mental health associate;
  • A qualified mental health professional;
  • A certified alcohol and drug counselor;
  • A prevention specialist;
  • A problem gambling treatment provider;
  • A recovery mentor;
  • A community health worker;
  • A personal health navigator;
  • A personal support specialist;
  • A peer wellness specialist;
  • A doula;
  • A family support specialist;
  • A youth support specialist; and
  • A peer support specialist.

Links

  
Emergency Department Discharge Practices Report
House Bill 3139 (2021) Resources for Providers, Youth and Trusted Adults
If you go to the emergency room - Advocating for your loved one during a crisis (English)
If you go to the emergency room - Advocating for your loved one during a crisis (Spanish)
OAR 309-027 Youth Suicide Communication and Post Intervention Plan
Public Health Youth Suicide Prevention
SB 48 (2017) Biennial Report - Youth Suicide Prevention Workforce Development
Statewide Youth Suicide Prevention Programs (Spanish)
Statewide Youth Suicide Prevention Programs (English)
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - Schools
Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Plan 2021 Annual Report

Resources

  
Call to Action Fall 2023 - Youth Suicide Prevention for Schools
SB 48 Continuing Education Courses (2023)
Youth Suicide Death Reporting Form

Contact

Page Info

​Jill Baker
Youth Suicide Prevention Policy Coordinator
503-339-6264

she/her/hers

Shanda Hochstetler
Youth Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator​

503-890-3575

she/her/hers