Report: Ottawa County sees higher suicide totals, though per capita rate trends downward

OTTAWA COUNTY — Twenty-nine people in Ottawa County took their own lives last year, according to local health data released recently. 

That is four more deaths than in 2024, representing a nearly 16 percent single-year jump, according to the county’s 2025 Death by Suicide Report. 

Yet health officials tracking the data say looking strictly at year-over-year headcounts misses the broader reality unfolding across West Michigan's shoreline. Because thousands of new residents continue moving into the county every year, epidemiologists rely on population-adjusted crude rates to track long-term trends, the report details. 

Viewed through that lens, Ottawa County’s suicide rate sits at 9.5 per 100,000 people — well below Michigan’s statewide rate of 14.0 and the national average of 14.4.

In fact, over a broader six-year window, the county’s suicide rate actually dropped by an average of nearly 6 percent per year, down from a peak of 12.0 in 2022.

Look beneath the macro numbers, however, and the public health report reveals stark disparities across gender, age, geography, and veteran status.

Men accounted for 79 percent of all local suicides in 2025. Over the last two decades, male suicides in Ottawa County have climbed by almost 2 percent annually — a statistically significant upward creep that local health programs have struggled to arrest. Rates among women, by contrast, remained flat over the same period.

Middle-aged residents carry the highest risk. Adults between 50 and 59 logged a suicide rate of 16.1 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2025, higher than any other demographic bracket. Overall, people ages 20 to 49 made up nearly 60 percent of the individual deaths recorded last year.

Location also matters. Three out of four suicides in 2025 occurred in the county’s western half. The northwest quadrant, which encompasses Grand Haven, has seen a steady rise since 2019, with rates climbing an average of 11 percent each year.

Military veterans remain heavily overrepresented. Five veterans died by suicide in Ottawa County last year. While down from six in 2024, veterans still accounted for 17 percent of all county suicides, despite making up less than 5 percent of the local adult population.

Firearms were used in 59 percent of all suicides in the county last year, followed by hanging at 17 percent. Among veterans who died by suicide over the past 16 years, firearms were used in 64 percent of cases, the report details.

Long-term records also exposed a clear seasonal pattern that runs counter to popular perception. Between 2010 and 2025, Ottawa County suicides consistently peaked in May, with 51 total deaths, while February saw the lowest count at 28. 

Epidemiologists noted that this local trend aligns with national findings showing self-inflicted deaths tend to surge in late spring rather than during the winter holidays.

The data surrounding teenagers presented a noticeable split between physical outcomes and self-reported mental well-being. Three teens died by suicide in Ottawa County in 2025. While up from 2024, the total sits within the county’s historical baseline of two to three teen deaths annually.

Meanwhile, survey data from area high schools paints a surprisingly resilient picture among local youth.

In the county’s 2025 Youth Assessment Survey, roughly 12 percent of local high schoolers reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. Statewide, that figure sits at nearly 22 percent. 

Nationally, it exceeds 20 percent. Ottawa County teens also reported lower rates of clinical depression, suicide planning, and suicide attempts compared to statewide peers.

Anyone experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Local crisis support is also available through the Ottawa County Community Mental Health line at 866-512-4357.

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