Oklahoma Suicide Rate Highest Since 2006

Oklahoma has seen the highest number of suicide deaths since 2006 and mental health experts tell us there is a lot of work to do.

Shannon Schwarz and Heather Borsuk call themselves suicide survivors.

Borsuk lost her sister and Schwarz lost her son to suicide.

They say that kind of tragedy is hard to heal from, and impossible to fully get over.

"It changes your DNA" Borsuk said. "It completely altered the trajectory of my life, my future, my family's life."

A study from Oklahoma Watch shows a 62% increase in suicide deaths in Oklahoma.

They also found suicides among black Oklahomans have doubled from 2016 through 2020.

They say suicide rates are highest in rural Oklahoma.

Gail Flack with Parkside Psychiatric Hospital believes the pandemic isn't solely to blame for our state's mental health crisis, but instead, exposed it, and the numbers back that up.

"We have a lot of work to do to destigmatize mental health and look at it as a public health problem instead of a mental health problem," Flack said.

Schwarz and Borsuk say as devastating as their losses are to them, they did find a silver lining along the way; each other.

They say through their involvement with local non-profits, they want to give others hope, too.

"Showing them that you can feel joy again," Schwarz said.

If you or someone you know is needing help, you can call the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

We also have links to more resources here.

Family & Children's Services

The Tristesse Grief Center

Hope Is Oxygen

Team Suicide Prevention

Counseling & Recovering Services of Oklahoma

It is our policy to provide resources for anybody considering self-harm when reporting about a situation involving suicide or a suicide attempt. 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.

The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) connect veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text.

Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.