New data from the BC Coroners Service shows 572 British Columbians took their own life in 2017, including 130 in the Interior Health area.

Spokesperson Andy Watson says the numbers are down slightly from the 603 deaths in 2016, 615 in 2015, and 644 in 2014.

He says Interior Health with 16.7 deaths per 100,000 people had the second highest suicide rate that year, behind only the Northern Health Authority, at 17.7 deaths per 100,000 people.

“This seems to be an issue that is over-represented in rural areas of our province compared to urban areas,” he said. “That is certainly something that our data is showing.”

Fraser Health had the highest number of suicide deaths in 2017 at 157.

Data shows that 16 people died by suicide in Kamloops that year, up from 11 in 2016 and 15 in 2015. In the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap, the suicide rate increased from 15.3 to 18.6 deaths per 100,000 people.

“So that goes against the provincial trend which saw a decrease from about 12.5 to 11.5 deaths per 100,000 people,” Watson added. “Also looking province-wide, we continue to see males over-represented in the data, about three in every four deaths.”

The coroners report found that the majority of deaths were between the ages of 40 and 49, and the three most common means of suicide were by hanging, followed by poisoning, firearms and falls.

Watson says people struggling with mental illness or suicidal thoughts should reach out for help.

“In British Columbia, there are a number of resources that are available,” he noted.

“One is the Crisis Intervention Centre and the Suicide Prevention Centre of BC. You know if you are experiencing a tough time and you need help have that conversation because we want to see these stats come down.”