I asked myself last week what I had to show for my work after 57 years as a Psychiatric Social Worker in New York State. I decided to investigate further and here is part of what I found. New York is ranked as #1 in mental health and well being among all the US states according to Mental Health America in 2025. There are seventeen indicators that are measured to determine these rankings one of which, is “thoughts of suicide in the past year.” New York is ranked third lowest suicide rate in the nation after District of Columbia and New Jersey.
In my career I have estimated I have done over 15,000 suicide/homicide evaluations most of them in large urban emergency rooms after an attempt was made or the person was bought in with a mental hygiene arrest. How many lives working as part of a mental health system team have been saved? Compared to other states, very many.
The national average suicide rate stands at 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people. However, individual state rates vary dramatically—ranging from a low of 5.7 to a high of 29.7.
In general, the highest rates are concentrated in the Mountain West and Alaska, while the lowest rates are primarily found in the Northeast and California. The rate in New York is 8.3 far below the national average.
If mental health professionals were to build a mental health system that prevented deaths from suicide what elements in that system would be beneficial to that goal?
The glaring discrepancy in suicide rates is rarely recognized and acknowledged let alone addressed. For example the suicide rates in the worst states: Alaska 29.7, Wyoming 27.8, Montana 26.8, Oregon 20,0 and the best states: New Jersey 6.7, New York 8.1, Massachusetts 8.3, and Rhode Island 8.9 is very significant with the rates in the worst states being three times higher than the best states.
One of the biggest factors in suicide rates is the quality of the infrastructure that supports personal functioning. In other words, does a person have a place to turn when they are down and out? Is there help available?
Mr. Rogers said that his mother told him, “Freddie, if you are in trouble look for the helpers.” Mental health professionals are a type of helper. The concern is that they are available to meet needs of ultimate desperation. In some states that are more available than in others. The public health data of suicide rates is one way of measuring the difference their availability makes in the health and life of a population,
