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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Suicide and suicide prevention

A Pandemic of Body, Mind, and Spirit: The Burden of "Social Distancing" in Rural Communities During an Era of Heightened Suicide Risk
Discusses the potentially heightened risk of suicide in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines how decreased access to mental healthcare, economic stress, stigma, and social isolation could increase the risk of suicide in rural areas.
Author(s): Natalie B. Riblet, Susan P. Stevens, Bradley V. Watts, Brian Shiner
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 207-210
Date: 01/2021
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Preventing Suicide in Rural Communities During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores the potentially increased risk of suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of providing mental healthcare. Highlights some of the factors related to COVID-19 that could increase the risk, such as self isolation, access to firearms, and decreased access to healthcare.
Author(s): Lindsey L. Monteith, Ryan Holliday, Talia L. Brown, Lisa A. Brenner, Nathaniel V. Mohatt
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 179-184
Date: 01/2021
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Leading Causes of Death and Health Disparities Among the American Indian and Alaska Native Population in Arizona
Highlights the health disparities and major causes of death faced by American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in Arizona to serve as a guide for tribal leaders and organizations when developing programs focused on improving AI/AN health. Includes information and data derived from Arizona population health and vital statistics, United States Census Bureau, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) on chronic disease, causes of death, and behavioral risk factors for AI/AN populations.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Health Services
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High and Rising Mortality Rates Among Working-Age Adults
Identifies key drivers of increasing death rates and disparities in working-age mortality from 1990-2017 and examines modifiable risk factors that could alleviate poor health and widening health inequalities in the working-age population. Makes recommendations for future research and data collection, and explores potential policy implications. Mentions rural throughout. Features statistics on trends in working-age mortality by age, sex, race/ethnicity, cause of death, and geography.
Author(s): Committee on Rising Midlife Mortality Rates and Socioeconomic Disparities
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Association of Rurality With Availability of Youth Mental Health Facilities With Suicide Prevention Services in the US
Presents a study on the availability of suicide prevention services for youths age 15-19 at mental health facilities in rural versus urban areas. Compares the rates of prevalence of mental health facilities, youth-serving mental health facilities, and youth-serving mental health facilities with suicide prevention programs by rural-urban continuum codes.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Jessica L. Mackelprang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(10), e2021471
Date: 10/2020
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American Indian Addendum for the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices
Highlights suicide prevention guidance for primary care providers in tribal communities. Accompanies the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices and provides information specific to American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Includes risk assessment and intervention information on suicide prevention strategies in tribal settings.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
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Suicide in Wisconsin: Impact and Response
Discusses suicide in Wisconsin, including data, risk factors, and the statewide prevention plan. Provides data on suicide trends from 2000-2017; suicide rates by sex, age, sexual orientation, and other demographics; methods of suicide; and more. Compares rural and urban counties on rates of suicide and hospitalization with self-harm injuries.
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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Emergency Department Visits Related to Suicidal Ideation or Suicide Attempt, 2008–2017
Examines trends in emergency department (ED) visits related to suicidal ideation or suicide attempt by age group for those 5 years and older. Includes data by patient location for rural, medium/small metropolitan, and large metropolitan areas. Includes maps showing by state whether rural, medium/small metro, or large metro areas had the highest rate of ED visits related to suicidal ideation or suicide attempt for those age 5-24, 25-64, and 65 or older.
Author(s): Pamela L. Owens, Kimberly W. McDermott, Rachel N. Lipari, Megan M. Hambrick
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Crisis Services: Meeting Needs, Saving Lives
Presents the National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practices Toolkit and a number of companion papers on crisis care. Toolkit highlights best practices for crisis care and the papers discuss a number of related topics, including homelessness, substance use, opioid-related deaths, and rural and frontier areas, among other issues.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Mental Health in Rural America
Discusses mental health issues among farmers and ranchers. Highlights some of the stressors for farmers and farm families, as well as strategies and resources to help cope with farm-related stress.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Farm Bureau
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