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Researchers identify emerging rural suicide ‘belt’ that encompasses Tennessee
Suicide rates in rural America remain persistently higher than in urban communities, according to new research from East Tennessee State University that identified a national suicide “belt” with relatively high death rates that extends from the east to west coasts, directly through Tennessee.
Overall, rates of deaths by suicide increased in both rural and urban communities between 2018 and 2021, researchers noted.
After the onset of the COVID pandemic, the nation experienced its biggest one-year increase in suicide deaths in 2021, claiming more than 48,000 lives. Rates in rural areas, however, were higher. While urban areas experienced suicide rates of about 13 to 14 per 100,000 residents between 2018 and 2021, rural areas recorded 19 to 20. Read more...
Research: Suicide Rates Remain Higher in Rural Areas
A new study has found that suicide rates in rural communities continues to be higher than those in urban areas, largely due to challenges with accessing mental health resources. Rural residents face more challenges than just access when it comes to mental health, according to the research led by a team at East Tennessee State University. The research shows that rural residents are hit with a triple whammy – challenges to access, stigma and high risk jobs – that leads to higher suicide rates. “There are a lot of interconnected reasons. First, rural areas often lack access to mental health care,” professor Qian Huang, lead researcher on the project, said in an email interview with the Daily Yonder. “Many rural counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), especially for mental health providers. That means fewer people available to help, longer wait times, and longer travel distances to care.” Read more...