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Opportunities for intervention in suicide
The dashboards on this page explore data related to times of transition and disruption, and importance in restricting access to lethal means amongst those at risk.
Times of transition and disruption
Many people who die by suicide never display the “classic” warning signs - no diagnosis, no documented history of attempts, no visible mental health crisis. Instead, their risk often increases during major life disruptions, during which they may come into contact with public systems such as healthcare, human services, or jails.
The causes of suicide are complex, and the dashboard does not show us that these systems cause suicide. The dashboard, rather, helps illuminate patterns of elevated risk in the days and weeks after interactions with these systems.
By showing when systems encounter people during periods of heightened vulnerability—and how that risk changes in the days and weeks after contact—the charts help identify critical windows of opportunity for support and intervention. This information can guide the design of programs that reach people at the moments when connection and follow up may matter most.
How to read and use this dashboard
You can switch between viewing suicide deaths and suicide attempt emergency department visits by using the buttons located in the upper-left-hand section of the dashboard. You can choose different public systems by clicking on the drop-down menu on the left-hand side of the dashboard.
In the graphs, larger numbers and taller bars represent higher rates of suicide deaths or attempts. For privacy reasons, some results are not displayed when the number of people who died or attempted suicide is too small. This does not necessarily mean the rate is low, because in a small population, several deaths can still result in a high rate.
You can access more details about a bar or data point by focusing on it or selecting it, depending on the device or assistive technology you are using.
Key findings
- Across all system encounter events included in the dashboard, the first 30 days after an event are a period of elevated suicide risk.
- After the first 30 days, a person’s suicide risk decreases but generally remains higher than the King County average. This reflects that people who interact with these systems often have higher underlying vulnerability than the general population. Events associated with the highest levels of risk include suicide- related emergency department visits (both related to suicide and for other behavioral health reasons), involuntary inpatient stays, and involvement with the King County crisis service system.
- Other experiences—such as accessing homelessness services, receiving or spending time in jail—are also linked to increased suicide risk in the period following these events.
What this means for action
Professionals who work in healthcare, social services, crisis response, or other public systems can use this information to recognize times when people may be especially vulnerable. During major life changes or crises, it’s important to offer suicide risk assessments, safety planning, timely outreach, counseling on access to lethal means, follow up, and connections to supportive resources. Visit the Zero Suicide webpage.
Community members also play an important role. Storing medications and firearms safely, offering emotional support, and helping reduce isolation can make a meaningful difference—especially for people going through stressful transitions. Small acts of care, like checking in, offering help with daily tasks, or simply letting someone know they matter, can help someone feel less alone.
It can also be helpful to learn the five action steps for supporting someone who may be thinking about suicide: Ask, Be There, Help Keep Them Safe, Help Them Connect, and Follow Up.
Restricting access to lethal means among those at risk
Research shows that limiting access to the most dangerous methods of suicide among people at risk—often called “means restriction”—helps reduce suicide deaths.
Many people who think about suicide feel conflicted about wanting to die. Suicide attempts often happen during brief moments of intense stress. When highly lethal methods are harder to access, it can create a critical pause. That pause gives the moment of crisis a chance to pass and allows time for support, connection, or help to reach the person before a tragedy occurs.
This dashboard includes information about firearms, which are one of the most lethal methods used in suicide attempts. Gun owners can play an important role in suicide prevention by practicing safe storage and being aware of how access to firearms affects suicide risk. For more information about firearm safety and suicide prevention, you can visit the Means Matter website.
What this means for action
It's important to make sure that any items or substances in your home that could be used in a suicide attempt are stored safely or, when possible, kept temporarily outside the home.
Firearms
- Firearms can be stored safely at home or temporarily stored outside the home during times of increased risk.
- To learn where and how to store firearms offsite when someone with access is at higher risk for suicide, you can visit the Washington Firearm Safe Storage Map.
- For guidance on safe firearm storage within the home, you can visit Lock It Up.
Medications and drugs
- Make sure that people at risk do not have easy access to medications that could be dangerous in large amounts. This includes over-the-counter medications, which are often used in suicide attempts. Store medications, drugs, and alcohol securely.
- Dispose of unused or expired medications through approved disposal sites or takeback programs. You can look up locations where old or expired medications can be safely disposed.