Public Health — Seattle & King County is monitoring changes in key economic, social, and other health indicators resulting from strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19. Just as the pandemic has had disparate impacts on parts of our population, mitigation measures present more hardship for some members of our community than others. The economic, social, and health impacts data project helps inform strategies and policies to minimize those harms and maximize outcomes for all residents of King County.

How are you using the data? Share your feedback via this brief survey.

Below are highlights, but you can view the entire dashboard here

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The following content contains material about self-harm/suicide. This content may be triggering and/or traumatizing.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide or a crisis there are resources available. If you are concerned about immediate safety, go to the emergency department. Otherwise, immediate help is available by calling the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255), texting HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line; or Washington Listens by calling or texting 1-833-681-0211.  

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Read our article about this project in the Public Health Post: ‘COVID’s Wide-Ranging Impacts’

Increasing rates of emergency department (ED) visits involving suicidal ideation among King County residents during July - December 2021

• During the last 6 months of 2021, rates of ED visits involving suicidal ideation increased steadily and peaked in November 2021 at 289 per 10,000 visits (1,273 visits).

• In December 2021, the rate of ED visits involving suicidal ideation among King County residents was 253 per 10,000 visits. This rate is a decrease compared to the previous month (November 2021). 

• During October - December 2021, the rate of ED visits involving suicidal ideation among King County residents aged 10-19 year (872 per 10,000 visits) was higher compared to the same 3-month period in 2019 (686 per 10,000 visits) and 2020 (807 per 10,000 visits) in King County (see figure below). 

• During October - December 2021, rates of ED visits involving suicidal ideation was highest among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and White King County residents. These 3 racial groups had the highest rates of ED visits involving suicidal ideation during the same 3-month period in 2019 and 2020, as well (see figure below). 

ECONOMIC

Housing needs continues to be the leading reason for calls to King County's 2-1-1 Crisis Connections line 

1,419 calls were made to King County's 2-1-1 Crisis Connections during the first week of February 2022. Of those calls, 52% (~730 calls) were related to housing needs. The most frequent housing need was Rent Payment Assistance (~370 calls). Housing needs have continuously been the leading reason for calls to 2-1-1 since early March 2021.

SOCIAL

Increase in emergency department visits involving domestic violence

In December 2021, the rate of emergency department (ED) visits involving domestic violence was 38.5 per 10,000 ED visits. This is an increase from previous months in 2021 as well as compared to December 2019.

Decrease in adult and elder abuse investigations 

In December 2021, there were 667 Adult Protective Services investigations among King County residents. This is a 17% decrease compared to December 2019. 
During October-December 2021, the most common allegations for adult protective services investigations were financial exploitation (32.4%) and self-neglect (35.8%). 

HEALTH

Slight decrease in calls to the WA Poison Center involving suspected intentional poison among young females (but numbers still high)

The number of calls involving suspected intention poison among female youth ages 6-17 in King County decreased slightly in January 2022 (45 calls) compared to January 2021 (48 calls), but are still higher than the number of calls received in January 2019 (39 calls). 

Overall decrease in calls to the WA Poison Center 

There were 999 calls to the WA Poison Center from King County residents in January 2022. This was an 8% decrease in calls during compared to January 2019 and an 18% decrease in call compared to January 2020. 

This work is funded by Public Health — Seattle & King County, the Washington State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’ s (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases ( ELC) Cooperative Agreement (CK19 - 1904 ).

For questions, please write to: COVIDevaluation@kingcounty.gov

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