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Suicide most common in Americans living in rural areas
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Americans living in nonmetropolitan/rural counties had higher rates of suicide from 2001 to 2015 than those living in metropolitan counties, according to a CDC report.
“While we’ve seen many causes of death come down in recent years, suicide rates have increased more than 20% from 2001 to 2015. And this is especially concerning in rural areas,” Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, CDC director, said in a press release. “We need proven prevention efforts to help stop these deaths and the terrible pain and loss they cause.”
To determine suicide trends for 2001 to 2015 among and within urbanization levels by sex, race/ethnicity, age group and mechanism of death in the United States, researchers analyzed mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System.
Suicide rates increased across all urbanization levels. Specifically, nonmetropolitan/rural counties had higher suicide rates than medium/small or large metropolitan counties.
Across urbanization levels, suicide rates were consistently highest among men and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives compared with women and other racial/ethnic groups.
However, suicide rates were highest for non-Hispanic whites in more metropolitan areas.
Suicide rates among non-Hispanic blacks were lowest for those in nonmetropolitan/rural counties and highest in more urban counties.
Suicide rates increased among all age groups across urbanization levels, with highest rates among individuals aged 35 to 64 years.
Rates of suicide by firearms and hanging/suffocation increased the most among all urbanization levels.
Rates of suicide by firearms in nonmetropolitan/rural counties were almost double that of larger metropolitan counties.
“The trends in suicide rates by sex, race, ethnicity, age and mechanism that we see in the general population are magnified in rural areas,” James A. Mercy, PhD, director of CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention, said in the release. “This report underscores the need for suicide prevention strategies that are tailored specifically for these communities.” – by Amanda Oldt
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.