Behind Ottawa County suicide data: Gaps in care, new violence

OTTAWA COUNTY — On paper, the long-term numbers for Ottawa County offer a reassuring baseline: Year after year, local suicide rates remain below state and national averages.

When public health officials released their 2025 Death by Suicide Report this month, the raw count told a harsher story. Twenty-nine residents died by suicide last year — an increase from 25 in 2024.

For Dr. Michael Brashears, executive director of Ottawa County Community Mental Health, those figures show how broad averages mask danger for specific groups.

“Ottawa County’s 2025 Death by Suicide Report offers a clear and deeply concerning look at the factors shaping emotional health in our community,” Brashears said.

“While long‑term suicide rates have declined when accounting for population growth, the increase from 25 deaths in 2024 to 29 in 2025 reflects meaningful gaps in support and intensifying pressures for specific groups. The data show persistent disparities across gender, age, geography, and veteran status, illustrating that broad trends do not always reflect the lived experiences of individuals who face heightened vulnerability.”

Geographic disparities along the lakeshore

The concentration of risk is highest along the county's western edge. While the northwest and southwest quadrants make up about 55 percent of the county's population, they accounted for nearly two-thirds of all suicide deaths over the past decade and a half.

In the northwest quadrant, suicide rates have risen by an average of 11 percent annually since 2019. Public health officials say geography itself is a factor, with fewer local clinics, longer drive times, and delayed access to immediate help.

Mental health workers are changing how they deliver services in response.

“Geographically, the western half of the county — particularly the northwest lakeshore region — continues to experience higher suicide rates, with the northwest quadrant showing an average annual increase of 11 percent since 2019,” Brashears said. 

“These areas often have fewer nearby services, longer travel distances, and more limited access to immediate support, all of which can contribute to elevated risk. CMH is responding by increasing mobile crisis coverage, strengthening partnerships with local law enforcement and first responders, and bringing services into community spaces directly along the lakeshore to reduce barriers and improve rapid access to care.”

High-risk groups, access to firearms

The demographic profile of those who die by suicide in Ottawa County has remained consistent over time. Men made up 79 percent of all suicide deaths in 2025. Adults aged 50 to 59 had the highest rate of any age group.

Military veterans remain heavily overrepresented. Veterans make up less than 5 percent of the county’s adult population, but accounted for 17 percent of suicide deaths last year. Historically, 64 percent of veteran suicides in the county involved firearms.

“Men continue to represent most suicide deaths, adults aged 50–59 carry the highest rate of any age group, and veterans — who make up less than 5 percent of the adult population — remain disproportionately affected at 17 percent of deaths,” Brashears said. 

“These patterns point to sustained stressors and the need for targeted, specialized engagement. In response, Ottawa County CMH has prioritized expanding outreach for people who may not seek traditional mental health care. Our Senior Reach program identifies older adults experiencing isolation or emotional distress and directly connects them to support and services,” he said.

“For veterans, we collaborate closely with VA providers, veteran-serving organizations, and peer networks to create accessible, culturally informed pathways to care. Community education efforts, including our ongoing 'Did You Know?' sessions, help residents understand mental health needs, risk factors, and available supports while fostering openness around seeking help.”

Guns were involved in 59 percent of all suicide deaths in Ottawa County last year. That high rate has pushed public health teams to treat firearm storage as a core component of crisis intervention.

“Firearms remain a significant factor in local suicide deaths, involved in 59 percent of all suicides last year and in 64 percent of veteran suicides historically,” Brashears said. “These numbers reinforce the importance of community-wide lethal‑means safety efforts. CMH partners with law enforcement agencies, veteran groups, firearm retailers, and community organizations to promote safe storage, distribute locking devices, and incorporate lethal‑means counseling into crisis response protocols. The Ottawa County Suicide Prevention Coalition brings these partners together to coordinate training, awareness campaigns, and practical interventions across the region.”

The impact of local domestic violence

The public health department's focus on crisis intervention and lethal-means safety follows the deadliest domestic tragedy in recent Ottawa County history.

In July 2026, emergency crews responding to a house fire in the 14900 block of Riverside Trail in Grand Haven Township found eight people dead inside.

Investigators with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police established that Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, shot and killed his 39-year-old wife, Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, and their six children — Keegan, Bennett, Teddy, Smith, Caroline, and Ella — before setting multiple fires across both floors of the residence and shooting himself.

Autopsies confirmed all seven family members died of gunshot wounds before the fires were lit. Detectives seized extensive paperwork from the home, but law enforcement officials noted there were no prior 911 calls to the address and no motive was ever identified.

Ottawa County Sheriff’s Capt. Jake Sparks noted at the time that while no criminal trial would take place because the suspect died at the scene, finding answers remained essential for surviving family, emergency responders, and the wider community. Public health experts say such tragedies underscore how critical early identification remains.

Troubling disconnect in youth data

The 2025 report also pointed to a disconnect regarding teenagers.

On self-reported health surveys, Ottawa County teens consistently report lower rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts than state or national averages. Yet three local teens died by suicide in 2025.

Brashears warned against relying strictly on survey responses to gauge youth mental health.

“The report also highlights a complex picture among youth,” Brashears said. “Although Ottawa County teens report lower rates of depression and suicidal ideation than state averages, we experienced three youth suicide deaths in 2025. This gap underscores the limitations of self‑report surveys and the need for earlier identification of behavioral and emotional warning signs, particularly for youth who may not verbalize distress. In collaboration with schools and community partners, CMH is working to strengthen early detection, expand crisis support options, and increase education for teachers, caregivers, and students.”

The effort to expand mental health outreach follows several years of political friction between county public health staff and the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

In July 2023, commissioners voted 7-3 to table an $8,000 contract for a social media campaign promoting "Man Therapy" — a digital platform designed to connect working-age men with mental health resources using targeted humor. 

The campaign was funded through state grant dollars at no cost to the county’s general fund, but several commissioners raised concerns about external web links on the site or argued the request was rushed.

In that same meeting, commissioners voted 7-2 against accepting a $10,000 grant from Wayne State University meant to make a local health clinic ADA-compliant and sensory-friendly, citing opposition to monthly data-sharing requirements on patient numbers and vaccinations.

Despite past administrative hurdles, mental health officials say the latest numbers leave no room for delay.

“As the data make clear, each case reflects a unique set of circumstances and needs,” Brashears said. “Ottawa County CMH remains committed to strengthening crisis response, expanding community-based support, deepening partnerships, and ensuring that residents have accessible pathways to care, connection, and timely intervention when they need it most.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You may also contact the Ottawa County CMH Crisis Line at 866-512-4357 (TTY 711) for immediate local assistance.

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.