CDPH Publishes Violence Prevention Data Brief

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently published “Preventing Violence in California Data Brief 1: Overview of Homicide and Suicide Deaths in California” which presents information on violent deaths in the state through a broad overview of the prevalence and burden of homicides and suicides. The resource was developed to inform and support continuing dialogue around opportunities for preventing violence in California through a comprehensive public health approach.

According to the data brief, over the last decade, more than 60,000 Californians died from either homicide or suicide. In 2017, over 6,500 violent deaths occurred, including 4,323 suicides and 2,113 homicides. Non-fatal violence-related injuries also resulted in over 20,000 hospitalizations and over 171,000 emergency department visits. Violent deaths also account for an estimated $8.0 billion medical and work-loss costs per year.

This data brief comes on the heels of the recent establishment of the CDPH Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) which aims to elevate violence as a departmental priority, integrate and align efforts across multiple CDPH programs, and frame the public health governmental role in addressing violence. More information on the data brief, the CDPH VPI, and the CDPH Safe and Active Communities Branch is available here.