Suicide rates: How Seattle-area communities compare

Take a look at how King County’s cities and larger neighborhoods compare when it comes to suicide. Take a look at how King County’s cities and larger neighborhoods compare when it comes to suicide. Photo: JORDAN STEAD, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: JORDAN STEAD, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close Suicide rates: How Seattle-area communities compare 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

Each year, about one in every 10,000 adults living in King County dies by suicide, making suicide the eighth leading cause of death in the Seattle area.

That suicide rate – 12.4 deaths per 100,000 people – is actually a lot better than the Washington-wide average of about 15.6 deaths per 100,000. But suicide’s toll is not spread evenly through King County.

Help is available for those experiencing thoughts of suicide, and those who are worried for someone else. The King County Crisis Clinic can be reached at 1-866-427-4747, or by calling 211. Specialized help for teens is available in the evenings at 1-866-833-6546. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-8255.

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Geographically, people living in communities north and south of Seattle are more likely to die by suicide than those living in Seattle or on the Eastside. Check out the gallery above for a look at how King County’s cities and neighborhoods compare when it comes to suicide.

Older residents and men are far more likely to die by suicide, according to state Department of Health statistics curated by Public Health – Seattle & King County. White people are over-represented when it comes to suicide. Lower-income areas see slightly higher suicide rates.

Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.