What is the suicide rate in Calcasieu Parish and in the state of Louisiana as a whole?

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the age-adjusted suicide rate — taking into account the aging of the population — was 15.4 per 100,000 people in Calcasieu Parish between 2008 and 2014.

America’s Health Rankings, a project of the United Health Foundation, put last year’s age-adjusted rate for Louisiana at 15.6 per 100,000 people. 

That number is similar to the one presented by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — 15.26. 

The AFSP says suicide is the second-leading cause of death for Louisianians ages 10-14, the third-leading cause for ages 15-34, and the fourth-leading cause of death for those ages 35-44.

A study published in the Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society about five years ago examined the demographics of suicide deaths in Louisiana from 1999 to 2010.

“During the 12-year period, there were a total of 5,983 suicide deaths in Louisiana, averaging 498 deaths per year with a range from to 361 to 551 deaths per year,” reads the report, written by Susanne Straif-Bourgeois and state epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard. 

“The majority of these suicide-deaths were committed by white males (68.5%) compared to 16.7% in white females, 11.9% in black males, and 1.9% in black females.”

National suicide statistics for 2015, from the CDC’s website:

“Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 44,000 people.”

“Suicide was the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 14, and the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 and 34.”

“There were more than twice as many suicides (44,193) in the United States as there were homicides (17,793).”

The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255; the number for hearing-impaired people is 800-799-4889.

For more info: www.cdc.gov; www.americashealthrankings.org; https://afsp.org; https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

 

Owners have 10 days to turn in plates

When a person drops their liability insurance on their automobile, how long do they have to turn the plates in?

According to the Office of Motor Vehicles policy manual, owners should turn in the plates within 10 days of the insurance cancellation notice date. 

“If the owner/lessee wishes to retain the license plate, he may file a written statement of non-use with this office on or prior to the date of insurance cancellation,” reads the manual.

“The effective date of the non-use statement must be on or prior to the date of cancellation. The vehicle must be titled/registered in the name of the individual voluntarily surrendering the license plate.”

For more info: www.expresslane.org.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.