Suicides on rise in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — A series of reports from the Utah Department of Health show suicide rates in the state are on the rise.

The agency says it found there were 456 suicides in 2010, up from 357 in 2006.

Preliminary data suggest the number of suicides will exceed 500 for 2011.

The research found that youth who committed suicide were more likely to have school or relationship problems while young adults were more likely to have been experiencing problems with intimate partners.

Among adults, the data found that many suffered from mental illness.

Officials say agencies across the state have now formed the Suicide Prevention Coalition to combat the problem.