Letter: Utah has more suicides, but also more people
(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) The Utah Capitol steps were covered with 600 pairs of shoes in February, representing the lives lost to suicide in 2016. With teen suicide rates rising, the Centers for Disease Control and Utah Department of Health support collecting data on sexual orientation among Utah high school students, but key school districts have blocked the move, deeming the issue too sensitive for a school survey.
In the June 24 Letter of the Week, Jason Chandler is concerned about the 46 percent “spike” in suicides since 1999.
Unfortunately, he forgot to factor in the increase in Utah population — 43 percent since 1999, resulting in a trivial change in the number of suicides (per population number) since that time.
It seems to me that whoever at the Tribune is deciding what letters to include in the opinion page should at least think about the identified concern and exclude obviously inaccurate letters.
Fred Burton, South Jordan
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