If you or someone you know requires mental health support, feel free to call, text or engage in chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or check out 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to confidential and complimentary services.

A recent study indicates that individuals with health insurance, higher incomes, and access to the internet might be less prone to suicide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, released on Tuesday, showed counties with lower health insurance coverage, limited internet access, and lower household incomes exhibited higher suicide rates.

“Our aim is to assist individuals in need before they reach a crisis point,” stated Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer, during a press briefing. “Suicide is preventable. We understand effective strategies to avert it and spare families and friends from grief.”

Over the past twenty years, the national suicide rate has persistently climbed, with an alarming statistic of about one death every 11 minutes in the U.S. In 2022, over 49,000 individuals succumbed to suicide, and 2023’s statistics seem to reflect similar trends. Native American communities reported the highest suicide rates, followed by white individuals. Additionally, men had a higher likelihood of dying by suicide compared to women, with rural residents facing a greater risk than those in urban areas.

The CDC’s report shifts the perspective on suicide risk, which is frequently seen as a problem solely associated with mental illness, rather than the broader factors contributing to crises, one expert noted.

“Everyone has a potential risk of suicide,” said Michiko Ueda-Ballmer, an associate professor specializing in public health at Syracuse University, speaking to YSL News. “This means that everyone should consider suicide prevention as a collective responsibility.”

Ueda-Ballmer, who did not participate in the CDC study, has worked on a recent Lancet Public Health series that discusses social aspects of suicide risk. The insights from the CDC report provide a clearer view of the “contextual factors” that shape an individual’s experience, rather than focusing only on personal mental health risks.

The CDC’s study analyzed federal data concerning individuals who died by suicide, correlating it with county-level census data that included details on household income, health insurance coverage, and internet access rates.

The study found that suicide rates among Native and white individuals, men, and people aged 25 to 44 were significantly lower in counties with high levels of health insurance, internet accessibility, and income. Specifically, the CDC discovered that counties with ample health insurance coverage had 26% lower suicide rates compared to those with limited coverage. Areas with the most internet access recorded a 44% reduction in suicide rates versus those with limited access. Similarly, suicide rates were 13% lower in counties with higher household incomes when compared to those with the lowest incomes.

Alison Cammack, the study’s lead author and a health scientist on the CDC’s Suicide Prevention Team, pointed out that having health insurance, internet access, and sufficient household income is associated with a diminished suicide risk.

However, the findings were not universally applicable. For instance, women in counties with the least health insurance, internet access, and income displayed similar suicide rates to women in the highest-income counties. Furthermore, rates among Black individuals appeared consistent regardless of their health insurance status.

The researchers stressed the importance of enhancing access to essential needs as a means of reducing suicide rates. Expanding health insurance access may enable individuals to seek mental health care, primary medical services, and intervention during crises. Communities with higher incomes generally meet more of their basic needs.

About 19 million Americans currently lack reliable internet access, as noted by the Federal Communications Commission. Officials have referred to internet accessibility as a “super determinant of health,” significantly influencing overall health outcomes and critical life elements. Individuals with internet access can typically achieve better job opportunities or educational outcomes, along with gaining access to telehealth and fostering stronger social ties.

Researchers indicated there could be additional factors at the local level affecting suicide risk that were not explored in the study. They did not specifically address groups at heightened risk, like veterans, individuals with disabilities, or members of sexual and gender minorities. Additionally, they recognized potential gaps in data pertaining to suicide rates, especially within Native and Hispanic communities, which may lead to underreporting of deaths in those demographics.

The researchers advocate for a comprehensive strategy toward suicide prevention, advocating for the implementation of upstream tactics presented in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Key strategies encompass enhancing economic support, facilitating access to mental health services, and empowering communities to cultivate healthy relationships and coping mechanisms. Limiting vulnerable individuals’ access to lethal means, such as guns, was also emphasized.

Assisting with safety in homes presents unique challenges in rural areas where gun ownership is prevalent, noted Ethan Dahl, co-director of ND HOPES, a CDC-funded suicide prevention program located in western North Dakota. The area experiences over 29.2 suicide deaths per 100,000 residents, significantly higher than the national average. Initiatives, such as promoting safe firearm storage, may prove beneficial, but community engagement is essential for effective implementation.

In rural North Dakota, Dahl shared with YSL News that numerous residents have personally endured the loss of someone to suicide.

“It’s an incredibly tragic situation, especially for such close-knit communities,” Dahl remarked. “Nonetheless, they exhibit strength and resilience.”