Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. Suicide was the 12th leading cause of death in Louisiana in 2024. Many factors contribute to suicide. The goal of suicide prevention is to reduce these risk factors and to promote and increase effective suicide prevention strategies.
The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health, Violence and Injury Prevention Program works to implement and evaluate a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention. These efforts are supported by the CDC’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program. A key goal of this program is a 10% reduction in suicide and suicide attempts among populations that are most affected by suicide, including youth and veterans.
Core Functions and Goals
- Use data to understand contributors and track trends related to suicide
- Identify and assess gaps in existing programs
- Implement and evaluate evidence-based strategies within the CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resources for Action
- Provide reports, fact sheets, talking points, and other data communication products to share findings and recommend evidence-based prevention methods
- Grow and sustain partnerships across multi-sectors, focusing on suicide prevention and improving mental health
- Coordinate injury prevention activities with key partners at the community and statewide levels
Syndromic Surveillance
Syndromic surveillance provides public health officials with a timely system for detecting, understanding, and monitoring health events. Syndromic surveillance is the near real-time collection and analysis of pre-diagnostic and disease indicators, such as symptoms, using electronic data (HL7) mainly from emergency departments. The purpose is to rapidly detect clusters of symptoms and health complaints that might indicate a disease outbreak or other public health threat in order to mobilize a rapid response.
Syndromic data acts as an early warning system for public health concerns such as flu outbreaks, and has been used in responses for opioid overdoses, e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury, Zika virus infection, and natural disasters. Even more recently, this data has been used in response to suicidal ideation and attempts.
Helpful Data Resources
Fact Sheets
This fact sheet provides key data on suicides in Louisiana, including recent trends in suicide death rates and suicide-related emergency department visits, information about affected populations, and strategies to prevent and reduce suicide.
Toolkits
A collection of downloadable graphics and captions to use on your own social media to share data about suicide in Louisiana.
To access additional data, complete an online data request form. A Bureau of Family Health team member will reach out to discuss how to best meet the needs of your request. Researchers who request data sets will also need to complete a data use application, which will be provided once a member of our team reviews your request.
Data Dashboards
The dashboards below show:
- Nonfatal Suicide Data Trends: syndromic surveillance data for suicide ideation and suicide attempt visits. The available data goes back to 2019 and is updated monthly. Data can be viewed by region and compared by year, gender, and age group.
- Fatal Suicide Data Trends: data for statewide suicide trends using Louisiana Vital Records. The data available goes back to 2013 and is updated annually. Data can be viewed across years and is broken down by demographics, such as region, parish, sex, race/ethnicity, age, and veteran status.
Note: The dashboards look best in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox. Having trouble seeing the data? We suggest switching browsers and refreshing the webpage to adjust the display, or using the full-screen view of the dashboard. If the issue persists, please contact BFHCommunications@la.gov.
Suicide Prevention Trainings
Visit the VIA LINK Resource Database
- Browse by Category
- See “Suicide Prevention Trainings” for the most up-to-date offerings in your area.
Suicide Community Alert Network (SCAN)
The Suicide Community Alert Network tracker is an email-based alert system for suicide activity at the parish and the Louisiana Department of Health region level for youth ages 10–19. The tracker monitors upticks in suicide-related emergency room visits on a weekly basis. If there is a significant increase in youth ages 10–19, an email is sent to suicide prevention partners in that parish who signed up to receive alerts. These alerts are meant to help partners gain awareness of recent non-fatal suicide-related activity in their area, allowing them to mobilize faster and tailor their support for the people who need it most.
If you are interested in learning more about the Suicide Community Alert Network, contact Kristen.sanderson@la.gov.
Prevention Partners
The agencies below partner with the Bureau to support suicide prevention efforts. Over 60 multi-sector organizations participate in the Statewide Suicide Prevention Collaborative, which meets regularly, in-person and virtually, to network and align suicide prevention efforts. If you are interested in learning more or joining the Collaborative, email Kristen.sanderson@la.gov.
Helpful Links
The links below connect you to crisis lines and more resources related to suicide prevention.
- Louisiana 988: A national hotline offering one-on-one support for mental health, suicide, and substance use-related problems for anyone 24/7.
- VIA LINK: A nonprofit organization providing counseling over phone, text, and chat to those in crisis, helping people connect with critical services, providing suicide intervention, offering opioid counseling, and more.
- Suicide Prevention Resource for Action: A resource that details the best available evidence and strategies to reduce suicide.
- BeSMART for Kids: A national campaign website with step-by-step guidance, promoting responsible firearm ownership to protect kids and reduce firearm deaths.
- Children’s Safety Network: A national resource center working to reduce injuries, hospitalizations, and deaths in children and youth, providing technical assistance, training, and resources.