Suicide rates are rising, especially in rural America

[Ohiogal]

Trump country???

************

Suicide rates are on the rise, especially in rural America, according to a study published Friday.

From 1999 to 2016, the rate of suicide among Americans ages 25 to 64 rose by 41 percent, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open. Rates among people living in rural counties were 25 percent higher than those in major metropolitan areas.

A number of factors appear to be driving suicide rates up in rural America, including poverty, low income and underemployment, said lead study author Danielle Steelesmith, a postdoctoral fellow at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.

“Those factors are really bad in rural areas,” said Steelesmith.

(snip)

Suicide “is a growing American tragedy,” said Dr. Albert Wu, an internist and a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “It has become a leading cause of death in the U.S., and is a major public health problem.”

In rural areas, “many of the most pernicious health and social problems intersect,” Wu said.

Lack of access to health care in rural areas further compounds the problem. “Insurance can be a proxy for people’s access to mental health care,” Steelesmith said.

Wu agreed. “Lack of health insurance kills people,” he said. “More insurance, including the expansion of Medicaid, could help.”

More:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/suicide-rates-are-rising-especially-rural-america-n1050806

[RandySF]

1. Lack of access to insured therapy is the key.

[Hekate]

3. Improving overall health and employment prospects would also relieve anxiety

Great country, isn't it?

[RandySF]

4. Not everything is about economics

Anyone with depression or anxiety disorder knows this.

[Hekate]

9. I'm more than aware of that, believe me...

...having benefitted from both talk-therapy and medication over time, and looking at my own family history, where depression and anxiety disorders run rampant on my mother's side.

One reason I really do not like Bernie is his one-size-fits-all classical Marxist socioeconomic unified theory of everything. It ain't so, in my experience, and I turn 72 this month.

I can recall the incredible anxiety and exhaustion of the years I had to be the solo provider for my children. I believed at the time that I could somehow figure a way out by myself. (Turns out that "doing it all" was a crock, but that's another story. At least my belief kept me going long enough, but a lot of things fell through the cracks, like mothering.)

I can get a glimpse of what it must feel like to be at a complete dead-end, whether in an isolated rural area or the inner city. The ability to provide shelter, food, education, and medicine for one's children -- if a person cannot do that, talk-therapy as such won't help stave off the demons. Maslow's bottom-level hierarchy of needs has to be met first -- then, ideally, pull in the mental health component.

Sorry, didn't mean to ramble. You and I are undoubtedly on the same page here.

[marlakay]

24. I understand a bit when I was a single mom

the place I worked for in small rural town I had lived in for only 2 yrs did lay offs 2 weeks before Christmas! In rural areas especially winter is a dead time for work and I was forced back into the city. I was lucky to have somewhere to go but even that was a struggle for years to get going again.

I actually went back to my ex briefly but it didn’t work. I was desperate.

So I totally can see how suicide could happen when people feel they have no way out. I couldn’t afford medical insurance then either, luckily I was healthy and in my late 30’s.

[RKP5637]

2. There is so much hopelessness in today's US. I can readily see why the rates are up. It's

hopelessness in many directions at once, simply overwhelming. There is no simple one fix.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. That seems to be true. Suicide could be a rational decision in cases where...

someone sees no possible future in living.

[Ohiogal]

7. I happen to agree with you, RKP5637

Just an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness seems to be pervasive in this country.

[appalachiablue]

5. CDC: Suicide rates Increased By 25% In US Since 1999

Last edited Sat Sep 7, 2019, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN, June 2018

Suicide rates increased by 25% across the United States over nearly two decades ending in 2016, according to research published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty-five states experienced a rise in suicides by more than 30%, the government report finds.

More than half of those who died by suicide had not been diagnosed with a mental health condition, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC.

"These findings are disturbing. Suicide is one of the top 10 causes of death in the US right now, and it's one of three causes that is actually increasing recently, so we do consider it a public health problem -- and something that is all around us," Schuchat said. The other two top 10 causes of death that are on the rise are Alzheimer's disease and drug overdoses, she noted.

In 2016 alone, about 45,000 lives were lost to suicide.

"Our data show that the problem is getting worse," Schuchat said...MORE...

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/suicide-rate-us-saw-25percent-increase-since-1999-cdc-says/ar-AAylNWS

[Lucid Dreamer]

22. I appreciate your discussion on this.

Unfortunately the msn link didn't come up on my computer.

Here is the JAMA link that is the base document.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2749451

If you readers are not data nerds like me I'll past the conclusions for you below.

Conclusions
This study examined suicide trajectories during an 18-year period and across the rural-urban continuum. Suicide rates were shown to be increasing most rapidly in rural areas, although all county types saw increases during the period studied. Several contextual factors were associated with suicide rates simultaneously, with social capital being associated with decreased suicide rates.

An increase in suicide rates was associated with rural residence, higher deprivation, higher social fragmentation, higher density of gun shops, and a higher percentage of county residents who were veterans and who were uninsured. Study findings suggest that increasing social connectedness, civic opportunities, health insurance coverage, and limiting access to lethal means within communities have the potential to reduce suicide rates across the rural-urban continuum. Suicide rates in rural counties are especially susceptible to deprivation, suggesting that rural counties present special challenges and deserve targeted suicide prevention efforts.

[treestar]

8. Trump country

If they buy the right-wing libertarian/capitalist theory, then it could be that they blame their poverty on themselves.

[Igel]

11. Which, again, seems to assume that everything ultimately comes down to $.

Which isn't so. Values systems can be much more complicated and there are a variety of subcultures with different systems and features all nestled in the US. Heck, even nestled inside the "white community" in the US.

[wellst0nev0ter]

12. North Dakota has a 57% spike in suicides

and the unemployment rate is only 2%, go figger.

[treestar]

23. When you talk to right-wingers

some of them do make it all about $. It's always "why should I pay my tax dollars to help (illegal aliens, lazy people who won't get a job), it's like every cent they pay in taxes is only OK if it is paying for a war but never to help anyone and anyone who needs help is always to blame. And they whine about paying taxes at all - they earned that money by their hard work (they never just work, but always work "hard&quot .

[MontanaMama]

10. Montana has the highest suicide rate in the US.

There are at least 2 or 3 a week in our local paper...and those are just the ones that I see because of death notices or obituaries. I don’t think it is any one thing...like economics or depression or lack of healthcare. Probably a combination of those and many other things. In general (not just MT) we are the most in-debt, addicted, medicated and obese adult cohort in US history according to researcher Brene Brown.

[GusBob]

15. Native American suicides boost that statistic

As an health care provider for the IHS in Mt I can tell you that suicides on the agencies are a crisis.
All the reasons you listed too. Many go unreported.

[MontanaMama]

16. Such an important point.

Thank you for making it.

[GusBob]

17. I wish it were different

Our clinic of over 200 people just held a meeting on suicide prevention. Everyone from the janitors to the CEO in attendance. One of the most intense sessions I have ever been involved with as every single person in the room has been affected by a suicide
Mental health issues are hands down the biggest medical problem on this agency because it affects people of all ages, especially youngsters

[MontanaMama]

18. It sure does. When kids see their elders struggling

everywhere they look, it must be next to impossible to move forward with any hope. I have followed the Arlee Warrior Movement closely. Arlee is just north of where I live...these kids have started something quite powerful to prevent suicide in their community. I’m guessing you know about it but maybe some folks on this thread might be interested.

[GusBob]

19. Yes I know of it

There are other programs as well.
Im over here at Rocky Boy. Just signed up for another year

[MontanaMama]

20. Thanks for the work you do.

[GusBob]

27. Aww thank you

I love it here

The problem as I see it. The Tribal members have a tremendous tolerance for pain. They stoically bear things that normally bring people to their knees.
With mental anguish its the same thing they internalize it which makes it harder to identify and treat
Or they self medicate it which is another bad path

[sammythecat]

25. I don't know,

but I'd be willing to bet that 200 yrs ago their suicide rate was near zero.

[GusBob]

26. It was much lower for all cultures

Which is the point of the OP

Near zero but not unknown among NA’s

In nations of the Arctic Circle and Northern regions in times of famine in Winter the elders were known to wander off to let themselves die for the good of the clan. Which is more of a self sacrifice I guess

[roamer65]

13. It's going to get even worse.

Last edited Sat Sep 7, 2019, 11:51 PM - Edit history (7)

The Chinese embargo on American agricultural products will really drive many farmers to it.

Also, in 50+ years, given our present path towards laying waste to our home planet, suicide will become a more attractive option for many as human suffering increases exponentially.

Our wholesale destruction of our Mother Earth will lead many to violence. They will either internalize the violence (suicide), or externalize it (war).

[NickB79]

14. Universal red flag gun laws would help immensely

2/3 of all gun deaths are suicides, and red flag laws help police get guns out of the hands of suicidal people.

[Revanchist]

21. I'm considering drugs

When I'm ready just get a large quantity of heroine or morphine. Doesn't leave the mess that a gunshot does.