Suicides in Urban and Rural Counties in the United States, 2006–2008

Searles, Veronica B.; Valley, Morgan; Hedegaard, Holly; Betz, Marian E.

doi:10.1027/0227-5910/a000224

Cited by 68 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In fact, the rate of firearm‐related suicide is higher in rural areas than in urban areas (Branas et al ). Subsequent research suggests that firearms are more commonly used in rural suicides than in urban suicides (Fontanella et al ; Searles et al ). A recent analysis also revealed that characteristics of U.S. counties categorized as “extremely gun violent” included rural, poor communities with high unemployment rates and a high proportion of minority residents (Kalesan and Galea ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“People Will Bury Their Guns before They Surrender Them”: Implementing Domestic Violence Gun Control in Rural, Appalachian versus Urban Communities

2018

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Though gun violence is a global issue, the risk of firearm death is substantially higher in the United States than in other high-income nations. Guns are deeply rooted within American culture; however, different subcultures exist along the urban-rural divide. Such differences between urban and rural communities related to gun culture have been dubbed "firearm localism." We investigated firearm localism in a state that has the highest proportion of firearm-related domestic violence homicide and a large rural area representing a subgroup of rural culture: Appalachia. Specifically, key professionals reported issues related to domestic violence gun control in their communities. We conducted phone and in-person surveys with a sample of community professionals (N 5 133) working in victim services and the justice system in urban and Appalachian communities. Despite evidence of a strong gun culture in the rural communities, both urban and rural professionals estimated that about two-thirds of their community would support restricting abusers' firearm access. Additionally, rural professionals were more likely to show concern for abusers' Second Amendment rights when discussing unintended negative consequences of gun confiscation; urban professionals were more likely to point out that gun confiscation can provide a false sense of security for victims. Policy implications are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“People Will Bury Their Guns before They Surrender Them”: Implementing Domestic Violence Gun Control in Rural, Appalachian versus Urban Communities

2018

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“…This finding may be explained by differing access to lethal means between urban and rural settings. Those living in a rural setting are more likely to die by suicide via firearm rather than poisoning, which is potentially due to greater firearm availability in rural communities (Searles et al., ). This may explain why the inclusion of county type as a covariate when comparing poisoning and firearm significantly added to the model.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Examining the risk factors for suicide is currently a public health priority in Colorado, with a goal of implementing suicide prevention programs to reduce suicide deaths by 20% before 2024 (CDPHE, ). Suicide risk has been shown to be influenced by demographic factors such as age, sex, and residence, and by clinical factors including substance abuse, prior suicide attempt history, and mental illnesses such as depression (Jamison & Bol, ; Searles, Valley, Hedegaard, & Betz, ). In addition to these factors, the occupation held by a person presents a unique set of risk factors and certain occupational groups have been shown to be at higher risk of suicide death (McIntosh, ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide Among Health Care Practitioners and Technicians in Colorado: An Epidemiological Study

Mintz

Jamison

Bol

2018

Suicide & Life Threat Behav

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Suicide is a public health concern with risks that vary between occupation groups. Many suicide victims with a health care occupation die by poisoning, but few studies have epidemiologically studied this association. The objective of this study was to quantify the increased risk of suicide death by poisoning among health care professionals in Colorado. Eleven years (2004-2014, N = 8,753) of suicide deaths in Colorado were compiled from the Colorado Violent Death Reporting System. A retrospective cohort study using multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine the risk associated with having a health care occupation and eventual suicide death by poisoning, compared independently to firearm and hanging methods. Suicide victims with a health care occupation were more likely to die by poisoning rather than by hanging (RR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.41-1.68) or firearm (RR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.60-2.01), when compared to suicide victims without a health care occupation. The association between health care occupation and suicide method was significantly (p = .032) modified by gender. The results show that health care workers who die by suicide have an increased risk of eventual suicide death by poisoning rather than by firearm or hanging. These results can be used to inform tailored suicide prevention efforts in health care professionals.

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“…Residence status, specifically, residence in rural areas has also been reported as a significant known risk factor for suicide [18] [19] [20]. The aforementioned stu-Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology dies showed higher rates of suicide in rural areas particularly among men and children [18] with barriers to treatment, socioeconomic disparities, social isolation, substance abuse and access to firearms as reasons for the higher rates of suicide in these areas [19] [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Suicide in Pregnant and Postpartum Women, Using the National Violent Death Reporting System Data: Are There Differences in Rural and Urban Status?

Adu¹,

Brown²,

Asaolu³

et al. 2019

OJOG

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Background: Suicide rates in the United States have increased by 30% since 1999 and suicide is currently the 10 th leading cause of death. Suicide has also become one of the leading causes of death in pregnant and postpartum women. The aim of this study is to examine whether rurality affects the risk of suicide in pregnant and postpartum women. Methods: This study used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, Restricted Access Dataset (2003-2012). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to first describe the pregnant and postpartum population versus non-pregnant females (ages 15-54), who all died by suicide, and then to examine urban-rural differences. Results: Rural suicide decedents were much older, married, less likely to have had a mental health diagnosis, and more likely to use a firearm. Recent intimate partner crisis and intimate partner problems were both associated with increased odds that the suicide decedent was pregnant or postpartum in both urban and rural counties, whereas presence of job problems and report of history of suicide attempt decreased the odds that the suicide decedent was pregnant or postpartum in both urban and rural counties. Multivariable polytomous logistic regression analyses revealed differences in suicide risk factors among pregnant, postpartum and non-pregnant decedents when stratified by rural and urban status. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that pregnant and postpartum women should be screened for risk of suicide, in the clinical setting, especially if there are intimate partner problems or a crisis. With proper identification and response, suicide in pregnant and postpartum women might be decreased.

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Suicides in Urban and Rural Counties in the United States, 2006–2008

Abstract: Rural decedents were less likely to be receiving mental health care and more likely to use firearms to commit suicide. A better understanding of geographic patterns of suicide may aid prevention efforts.

Cited by 68 publications

References 25 publications

“People Will Bury Their Guns before They Surrender Them”: Implementing Domestic Violence Gun Control in Rural, Appalachian versus Urban Communities

“People Will Bury Their Guns before They Surrender Them”: Implementing Domestic Violence Gun Control in Rural, Appalachian versus Urban Communities

Suicide Among Health Care Practitioners and Technicians in Colorado: An Epidemiological Study

Understanding Suicide in Pregnant and Postpartum Women, Using the National Violent Death Reporting System Data: Are There Differences in Rural and Urban Status?

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