Suicide Rate Increase

We examine the alarming increase in the suicide rate in central Wisconsin and across the entire state. In 2008, 737 Wisconsin residents took their own lives, the highest number in at least two decades. That same year, a record 24 suicides took place in Marathon County alone. Suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in Wisconsin, ahead of even motor vehicle crashes and breast and prostate cancer. Guests include Debi Traeder, Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Mental Health America-Wisconsin; Henry Kanamoto, suicide survivor, retired physician and facilitator for the Survivors of Suicide Support Group; and Dr. Edward Krall, psychiatrist with the Marshfield Clinic Behavioral Health Department. Dr. Krall is scheduled to appear in Wausau on Friday, March 5th for the Making Parity Real symposium, with the goal of getting better insurance coverage for mental health treatment.