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Resources by Topic: Suicide and suicide prevention

Trends in Firearm Death among Middle and High-School Aged Rural and Urban Adolescents from 2001 to 2022
Examines changes over time in firearm mortality among middle and high school-aged adolescents in metropolitan and non-metropolitan settings, utilizing 2001-2022 CDC Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) data. Includes breakdowns of firearm-related homicides, suicides, and unintentional deaths by year, with comparisons to other leading non-firearm related causes of death.
Author(s): Elizabeth H. Weybright, Heather F. Terral, Kelsey M. Conrick, Patrick M. Carter, Ali Rowhani-Rahbar
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 53
Date: 09/2025
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Suicide Surveillance Report, South Dakota
Illustrates South Dakota's current suicide rates and trends, and compares this data with national rates. Includes county data, method of suicide or self-injury by age and sex, and suicidal ideation by high school students.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Illegally Made Fentanyl Use in the United States: 2022 and 2023
Report highlights findings from the 2022 and 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on the use of illegally made fentanyl across the U.S. Explores co-usage with other drugs, emergency room visits/hospitalizations, and breaks down user characteristics by age, poverty level, and rurality, among other measures.
Citation: NSDUH Data Brief, 2(2)
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Rural Veterans' Thoughts on High Suicide Rates in Their Communities—and on What to Do About It
Highlights a study on the perspective of rural veterans on methods for suicide prevention in their communities. Bases findings on a survey of veterans in rural counties in Oregon and explores perceptions around socioeconomic resources, person-centered healthcare, and having a strong sense of community.
Author(s): Lauren M. Denneson
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
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Vermont Annual Suicide Data Report: Data through 2024
Presents an overview of suicide in Vermont, exploring trends, risk factors, and the burden of suicide on healthcare systems and communities. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health
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Health Care Use Preceding Suicide by Firearm Compared with Suicide by Other Means — Alaska, Colorado, and Washington, 2020–2022
Discusses use of healthcare services, including mental health services, in the year prior to suicide for those who died by firearm versus other means, based on data from three healthcare organizations in Alaska, Colorado, and Washington. Includes the number of suicides by location of residence for rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Author(s): Julie E. Angerhofer, Maricela Cruz, Jennifer Shaw, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(21), 365-371
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Care Packages to Promote Universal Suicide Prevention for Remote Alaska Native Communities: What Worked?
Presents a study on the efficacy of a suicide prevention intervention aimed at teens in remote Alaska Native communities. Details the distribution of mental health and safety promotion care packages sent to participants through the mail and highlights the results of a survey of participants on the perceived success of the intervention.
Author(s): Joshua Kennedy, Lisa Wexler, Tara Schmidt, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70032
Date: 05/2025
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Pain in the Nation 2025: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Suicide Prevention in Tennessee: 2025 Annual Report
Summarizes suicide surveillance and programmatic data collected by the Tennessee Department of Health. Identifies strategies and best practices for the prevention of deaths by suicide. Features statistics including rates of suicide among residents of rural and urban Tennessee counties in 2023.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Exploring Spatial Dynamics of Trauma and Substance use Among Suicide Deaths in the United States (2017–2021)
Examines the spatial relationship among trauma, substance use, and suicide in the United States. Utilizes National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data to generate county-level U.S. maps showing hot spot analyses of traumatic events, suicides, and substance use. Discusses regionality and rurality related to hot spot trends.
Author(s): Bianca D. Smith, Kechna Cadet, Terrinieka W. Powell
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 22
Date: 05/2025
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