Last updated: July 21, 2025  16:23

“County health officials are prioritizing suicide prevention after recent state data reported Brown County had the highest suicide rate in the state for the years 2018-2022.”   (Determined by the crude rate)

IDoH calculates suicide rates using two different calculations.

1. The Crude Rate is used for a total count over five years.  Using the crude rate, Brown County had the highest rate in Indiana (2018-2022).  The rate is determined by dividing the number of suicide deaths for Brown County residents by the population size and then multiplying by 100,000. Age-adjusted rates take into account the variability of ages across counties.

2. A stable/reliable rate is calculated IF the count of suicides in a year is greater than 20.  (The Brown County count per year has been under 20).   In 2023, the five counties with the highest stable rate of suicide were Grant (35.2), LaPorte (27.3), Howard (26.4), Madison (24.9), and Vanderburgh (23.6)

• The “Count” for 2019-2023: “50%” drop from 2022-2023 – See below – Test your knowledge of variation.
  • 2019: 6
  • 2020: 4
  • 2021: 4
  • 2022: 10
  • 2023: 5 

 Suicide prevention takes on urgency, By Staff Reports –Brown County Democrat, April 15, 2025

• • “County health officials are prioritizing suicide prevention after recent state data reported Brown County had the highest suicide rate in the state for the years 2018-2022. “
  • “Brown County. Suicide Rate. 5 Year Rate (per 100,000 persons): 35.2
    County Ranking: #92,  *5-year crude rate (per 100,000 persons). This metric is calculated by dividing the number of deaths attributed to the act or instance of taking ones own life voluntarily and intentionally (suicide) divided by the number of residents in the county.”
    Ref: in.gov/healthfirstindiana/county-health-scorecard/
  • “The county now has a suicide and fatality overdose review team that studies cases with the intent of reducing future preventable deaths. Additionally, the county has been distributing suicide prevention kits.”

Statistical Methods. Regarding statistics and methodologies, the intent is to transform data into actionable information that supports better decision-making.  One of the seven basic tools in quality that is used to determine if a change is resulting in improvement is a Run Chart. Generally, you need about 20-25 data points. Indications of a change would include 7 consecutive data points in a row going up or down, or seven consecutive data points above or below the median. 

• • Additional Options. It has been estimated that the seven basic tools of quality can help resolve 95% of problems. An introduction to the quality improvement principles, methods, and tools is provided in my book:   Success Through Quality: Support Guide for the Journey to Continuous Improvement.  
  • Brown County Leader Network (BCLN) – Introduction to some improvement-related methods, tools, and strategies to include a collaborative decision-making process.

Variation – Statistical Literacy. Test your knowledge of variation?  Most everyone gets the wrong answer.  It took me a few years to fully understand the theory. Kids have a faster learning curve.   It has also been estimated that a lack of understanding of common and special causes of variation results in a situation where 94%  of improvement actions yield no improvement. (For example, how many New Year’s Resolutions result in a permanent and fundamental change?)

Crude Rate Calculation

County Health Scorecard – Brown County –  Suicide 5-Year Rate (per 100,000 persons) County Ranking: 35.2 – Highest of the 92 counties 

• • The Health First Indiana Scorecard online shows crude rates, which means age distribution in counties (see below)  is not taken into account.   Crude rate is chosen because all other measures on the scorecard are crude rates and cannot take age into consideration. The scorecard currently displays data for the years 2018-2022. Brown County had more than 20 deaths in that 5-year timespan, therefore the rate is stable (reliable).

• •  *5 year “crude rate” (per 100,000 persons). This metric is calculated by dividing the number of deaths attributed to the act or instance of taking ones own life voluntarily and intentionally (suicide) divided by the number of residents in the county.

One-Year Rate

IDoH:  Fatal Overdose and Suicide Report, 2023.  When using the oneyear rate calculation, Brown County does not have the highest rate in the state.

• • “Age-Adjusted Rate:”  Suicide Fatalities by County of Residence•
    • In 2023, the five counties with the highest stable rate of suicide were Grant (35.2),
      LaPorte (27.3), Howard (26.4), Madison (24.9), and Vanderburgh (23.6)
    •  Between 2022 and 2023, the number of suicide deaths increased in 44 counties and
      decreased in 35 counties. Fifteen counties had no change (See Appendix E  below).

      The Indiana Suicide and Overdose Report, where Brown County isn’t identified as having one of the highest rates,  is because it is only looking at the year 2023 (not a combined year like the county scorecard)  and is also age-adjusted. This provides a more accurate comparison between counties since rural counties tend to have a higher proportion of older populations.  Brown County saw 5 deaths in 2023 which is below 20, therefore considering it unstable/unreliable and why the “U” is in the Table E.1 below.