Suicide: A Serious Problem in Rural Communities
Approximately 60 million people (1 in 5 Americans) live in rural America. From 1999 to 2019, suicide rates increased by 33% and is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In rural areas, this rate increased to 50% compared to 31% in urban areas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that several groups report significantly higher rates of suicide than the general population:
The highest suicide rates are among non-Hispanic Alaskan Indian and American Native males at 43.9 per 100,000 people and non-Hispanic White males at 33.7 per 100,000 people residing in rural areas. Suicide impacts the overall well-being of loved ones, co-workers, family members, friends, and the community as a whole. I know, first hand, the toll suicide can take in rural areas. I grew up in small rural town in Minnesota where not a year passed without a loss to suicide in my community. The Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program states that those with mood disorders (e.g., depression and bipolar disorder) are at a higher risk for suicide as well as those who may have disorders that co-occur with mood disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, some personality disorders, and substance use disorders. Numerous barriers to accessing quality mental health care contribute to the persisting rise in people developing suicidal ideation. This behavioral health treatment service locator finds treatment facilities located near a specific area. When looking in rural areas, you can see the limited options of nearby treatment facilities. A study by Robinson et al. (2012) analyzed qualitative data from focus groups and found 5 main themes describing patient and family members’ experiences of mental illness and their attempts in receiving treatment in rural communities. Individuals described experiencing:
Several factors contribute to higher suicide rates in rural areas:
Although telehealth is becoming widely available, there are still areas that lack reliable internet and with high poverty rates in rural communities, many individuals do not have the means to utilize services via telehealth. Morales et al., (2020) notes there is also a large number of providers who do not stay in rural settings, which impacts continuity of care. The Rural Health Information Hub describes that there are fewer racial and ethnic minority providers in rural areas, and many of these mental health professionals are not specialized in working with specific disorders or populations. So what needs to change? Here are some steps that counseling psychologists, students and other professionals can take to address high suicide rates in rural areas:
These are only a few steps that counseling psychologists, students, and other health professionals can take to address some of the barriers that rural residents experience. Some are more feasible than others. Although there has been more of a recent push towards reducing stigma surrounding mental health, we still have a long way to go. Further research and education are needed to increase advocacy and change existing policies. Interested in reading more about this topic? Here are some resources you may find useful: Morales, D.A., Barksdale, C.L., Beckel-Mitchener, A.C. (2020). A call to action to address rural mental health disparities. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 4(5), 463-467. doi: 10.1017/cts.2020.42 Robinson, D.W., Springer, P.R., Bischoff, R., Geske, J., Backer, E., Olson, M., Jarzynka, K., Swinton, J. (2012). Rural experiences with mental illness: Through the eyes of patients and their families. Families, Systems, & Health, 30(4), 308-321. doi: 10.1037/a0030171
Posted on: March 08, 2022 |
Madison is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling at the University of Minnesota Duluth and is the Secretary for the APA’s Div. 17 Section on Positive Psychology. She earned her bachelor of science degree from Bemidji State University in Psychology and Sociology. Her research interests include barriers to accessing mental health services and early mental health intervention for children and adolescents.