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Utah/Statistical claims/Suicide rate among Mormons: Difference between revisions
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==Response== | ==Response== | ||
As is often the case, critics do not tell the whole story. | |||
The data underlying this attack come from U.S. death data. Studies using ICD-10 codes X60-X84, Y87.0 have been extracted by state. In 2002, Utah ranked #13 in the nation for number of suicides per 100,000 people in the population.{{ref|suiciderates1}} | |||
The critics do not tell us, however, that it has long been recognized that the western United States has higher suicide rates than the rest of the country. The reason for this is not clear, though numerous theories have been advanced.{{ref|suicidecauses1}} | |||
The critics also do not tell us that of the Western states, Utah has the ''lowest'' suicide rate: | |||
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!State!!Rank (1 is worst)!!Suicide rate | |||
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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
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==Endnotes== | ==Endnotes== | ||
#{{ref|suicidesrates1}} K.D. Kochanek, S.L. Murphy, R.N. Anderson, C. Scott "Deaths: Final data for 2002. National Vital Statistics Reports," 53(5). | |||
(2004), Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2005-1120. (p. 92, Table 29) [data are by place of residence]. | |||
#{{ref|suicidecauses1}} {{NC}} | |||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 05:16, 30 August 2007
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Criticism
Critics charge that the suicide rate in Utah is higher than the national average, and that this demonstrates the being a Latter-day Saint is psychologically unhealthy.
Source(s) of the criticism
Response
As is often the case, critics do not tell the whole story.
The data underlying this attack come from U.S. death data. Studies using ICD-10 codes X60-X84, Y87.0 have been extracted by state. In 2002, Utah ranked #13 in the nation for number of suicides per 100,000 people in the population.[1]
The critics do not tell us, however, that it has long been recognized that the western United States has higher suicide rates than the rest of the country. The reason for this is not clear, though numerous theories have been advanced.[2]
The critics also do not tell us that of the Western states, Utah has the lowest suicide rate:
| State | Rank (1 is worst) | Suicide rate |
|---|---|---|
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
| STATE | RANK | Rate |
Conclusion
Endnotes
- [3] K.D. Kochanek, S.L. Murphy, R.N. Anderson, C. Scott "Deaths: Final data for 2002. National Vital Statistics Reports," 53(5).
(2004), Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2005-1120. (p. 92, Table 29) [data are by place of residence].