SVMC Community Health Needs Assessment 2021 - Catalog - Page 50
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Depression, while potentially debilitating on its own accord, is also one of the main risk factors for
suicide amongst individuals of any age. In 2019, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the US,
and was the second leading cause of death among those between 10 and 34 years old.58
Suicide deaths59
County
Bennington County
Windham County
Berkshire County
Washington County
Rensselaer County
Number of deaths due to suicide per
100,000 population (age-adjusted)
19
26
14
11
11
State
Vermont 17
Massachusetts 9
New York 8
High school student suicide attempts17,18,56,57
County
Bennington County
Windham County
Berkshire County
Washington County
Rensselaer County
Percent of high school students
attempting suicide, past year
7%
6%
Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
State
Vermont 7%
Massachusetts 7%
New York 9%
While depression and anxiety are two distinct diagnoses, and there is no evidence that one condition
causes the other, many people suffer from both disorders. Anxiety is characterized by excessive anxiety
or worry over a long period of time. Anxiety can interfere with an individual’s ability to function socially,
and to maintain professional responsibilities.60
Survey Results: Challenges with Anxiety
n=1,529
100%
80%
60%
A major challenge
40%
Somewhat of a challenge
A small challenge
20%
0%
13-34 years
35-64 years
65+ years
58
National Institute of Mental Health. National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Suicide.
Last updated May 2021. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide
59 Suicides: A community safety measure. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. University of Wisconsin Population Health
Institute: School of Medicine and Public Health with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2021 County Health
Rankings using data from 2015-2019. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/
60 Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Understand Anxiety and Depression: Depression.
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Community Health Needs Assessment 2021