ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota had 815 suicides last year, down about from 860 the year before, the state Health Department reported. The rate was 14.8 deaths per 100,000 people – slightly less than the 14.2 national rate. Details:
> Suicides were much more frequent outstate than in the Twin Cities metro.
> Rates in northeast counties like Lake and Cook were three times higher than the Metro.
> Suicide was relatively uncommon in much of southern Minnesota.
> Minnesota suicides rates were most common in middle age.
> Suicides were three to four times higher for men than women.
> Native Americans were more prone to suicide than other ethnic groups.
> Firearms comprised nearly half of Minnesota suicides, reflecting access to guns.
> People who commit suicide were twice as likely to have been using alcohol than any other drug.
Data on substance use only goes through 2021 but show that cannabis is being more frequently used by people who commit suicide. Prior to 2019, marijuana use was typically recorded in fewer than 5% of suicide victims, but by 2021 it was in 16%.
Suicides by county. Per 100,000 residents in period 2017 through 2021. The more intense the color, the the worse the county’s rate. Image: Minnesota Health Department
More suicide data
Minnesota suicide rates have been steadily increasing for 20 years. Overall rate rate remains about one-third higher than 2003. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the Minnesota rate has closely tracking the national average.