DuPage coroner reports 23% increase in suicides

An increase in the number of suicides since the COVID-19 pandemic started is raising concerns with the DuPage County coroner about whether the trend will continue through the end of the year.

Coroner Richard Jorgensen issued a warning Thursday that the number of suicides in the county between Jan. 1 and June 30 rose from 44 in 2019 to 54 in 2020, a 23% increase.

He said 34 suicide deaths in the county occurred after the state implemented measures in March to stop the spread of COVID-19, ordering nonessential businesses to shut down and residents to stay home, and later limiting where and how many people could congregate.

Jorgensen said the increase in suicides is particularly alarming combined with the number of drug overdose deaths in 2020.

This year overdose deaths are 52% higher than the same time last year, with the majority occurring after the COVID-19 measures were implemented in the state.

Last month Jorgensen reported 17 overdose deaths in the first 76 days of 2020, about the same as the 15 in the same period in 2019.

In the 105 days from mid-March through June 30, there were 52 overdose deaths, Jorgensen said. For same time period last year, there were 30 deaths, he said.

While the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows suicide rates are higher in the spring than in the fall and winter, Jorgensen said he suspects the trend could continue with reduced opportunities for people to interact over the next six months because of pandemic restrictions and weather changes.

“I am worried about fall and winter,” Jorgensen said.

The coroner’s report on the first six months of 2020 shows 80% of the suicides were men.

Broken down by age, the report shows 11 were 20-29, 10 were 50-59, nine were 40-49, nine were 60-69, six were 30-39, five were 70-79, three were 80 or older, and one was 19 or younger.

Jorgensen said the ethnic background roughly parallels the makeup of DuPage County as cited in the 2010 census report.

As with the drug overdose deaths, Jorgensen said in almost every suicide case the person had a history of mental health issues or depression; personal, financial or marital problems; previous drug dependence or rehabilitation; or were divorced, never married or living alone.

Jorgensen believes isolation and lack of community and companionship during the pandemic are “taking a toll on the most vulnerable of our society.”

In a press release, Karen Ayala, executive director of the DuPage Health Department, said stress is all around, particularly with the increased anxiety and uncertainty with COVID-19.

“The despair that leads people to making the decision to end their life indicates a sense of hopelessness that is unimaginable,” Ayala said. “Making sure that all residents and the people in their lives know they are valued, loved and that there are effective treatments that can help are critically important and very real steps to take.”

Ayala said stress is understandable and if symptoms worsen, a person may need the help of a professional.

The health department provides crisis services 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 630-627-1700.

Information on the DuPage County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Services and its opioid and substance abuse initiatives is available at dupagehealth.org.