Any first responders here?

[Coyote_Bandit]

I've had occasion lately to sporadically follow the local police blotter. It seems to me that there are a lot of suicides and suicidal subject calls. I believe that the metropolitan area that the police department serves has a population of about 400,000 people. I've only sporadically followed live calls but I have seen 3 completed suicides since Saturday and at least 5 calls on suicidal subjects. That seems high to me given the short period of time and the population.

Are you seeing an increase in suicides and suicidal people?

[MiddleFingerMom]

1. FIRST!!!

(edited and all text added after seeing the seriousness of the post)
.
The national suicide rate stayed pretty consistently between 10-12
per 100,000 population per YEAR between 1990 and 2000-- which
would make your area's "norm" about 4 per month.
.
Areas vary (surprisingly, the same chart showed NYC at only 7-8
per 100,000.
.
If you've heard of 4 in less than a week, that's a HUGE statistical
variance, but it may or may not be significant. All sorts of variables
(including simple spikes and lulls).
.
But it is high -- let us know if it continues (and other folks who are
local newsfollowers/police scanner enthusiasts let us know if this is
a trend in your area -- it could very well be economy-related in
some way.
.
.
.

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. Yep

First.

Thx.

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. Sorry -- all I saw was your OP and rushed to be first -- see my edit. n/t

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. Thanks

I would expect clusters but that many suicids and suicial people in such a short time seems a bit much to me.

I knew 3 people who suicided here last year - and in all muy previous years had never known anyone who had even threatened suicide (to my knowledge at least).

I'm going to try to keep an eye on the police blotters for awhile.