Turning Data into Prevention

Inside the citywide effort to save lives

Across computer screens, conference calls and shared dashboards, community members, researchers and public health officials gather to find traces of missed opportunities, searching for moments where intervention might have saved a life. 

Formed in 2023, this Jefferson County Suicide Fatality Review Workgroup was created in response to an alarming trend: a 24% increase in Louisville Metro suicide deaths in 2022 over a three-year span. The group, made up of 20 plus partners including coroners, faith-based leaders and hospital personnel, brings together expertise from organizations across the state to raise awareness and inform the public about emerging suicide trends.

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Tapped by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness to lead this effort is Laura Frey, licensed clinician and family scientist, who's path into this work began as a volunteer at a crisis center, where she spent four years guiding callers toward hope and survival.

Frey’s research seeks to understand suicide not just as a mental health issue, but a community and public health challenge. 

“Prevention is not just about crisis response – it’s about improving overall quality of life. Access to health care, financial stability, housing and food security all shape mental well-being and resilience.”

By studying local suicide deaths, the workgroup aims to identify prevention points and best practices that will inform response strategies of community partners moving forward. To do this, Frey’s team collect de-identified data from coroner’s reports, Kentucky’s Department of Veteran Affairs, the Louisville Metro Police Department and other community records that shed light on possible warning signs and recurring themes like financial strain, relationship stress or health challenges. The team then codes the data, noting patterns and flagging any cases that are outliers for further analysis.  

For city leaders, these interagency collaborations mark a pivotal shift toward a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.

 “This partnership has allowed the health department to access critical, real-time data that characterizes the landscape of suicide in our local community,” said Lakeisha Gardner, suicide prevention coordinate for Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness.

This multiagency data-sharing model – the first of its kind in Kentucky – provides a more complete picture of those at risk than ever before. By mapping where individuals may have interacted with services, or where opportunities for support were missed, the team hopes to strengthen local systems of care.

“We want to understand how and where people are connected to their community,” Frey said. “If someone was active in a faith-based organization, can we work with that group to provide education on what signs to look for?” 

Culminating these efforts, the work group released a report on local suicide data from 2019 to 2023, offering one of the most transparent data-driven looks yet at suicide trends in the area. Key findings revealed that deaths occurred most often among men, with construction and extraction workers representing 18% of all suicide deaths – despite accounting for just 3% of Louisville’s population in 2022. Substance use was referenced in 20% of cases, while relationship or family conflict was cited in 31%, highlighting the complex web of factors that can contribute to suicidality.

By analyzing trends over the past five years, the team can better see how the city compares nationally and identify risk factors specific to the region. “This report is essential to the health of our community,” Gardner said. “It provides insight into populations at increased risk and trends and patterns unique to Louisville and Jefferson County. The collection of this data allows us to identify gaps in prevention and recommend interventions to prevent future deaths.” 

The workgroup also brings together diverse voices – crisis responders, chaplains, law enforcement and health officials – to understand the unique challenges people are facing. While many agencies tend to work in silos, the collaborative approach of this effort helps break down communication barriers, reduce stigma and foster a more coordinated approach to reducing suicide rates.

“There’s a lot happening in the community surrounding suicide prevention, but resources are limited. It’s helpful to get a local look at the specific needs of our community so we can tailor and make the most of our resources,” Frey said.

Ultimately, the group hopes these findings help community partners shape interventions and build stronger avenues of care, ensuring that data is transformed into action and that future prevention efforts are guided by the lives and stories behind the numbers.

“This is a problem that goes beyond socioeconomic status, race, gender and ethnicity,” Frey said. “It’s something that everyone experiences and we’re better prepared to help if we know what to do.”

If you’re struggling, need support or are worried about someone else, please reach out to the 988 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.