Suicide in Rural America

In the United States, suicide was responsible for 44,193 deaths in 2015, which is approximately one suicide every 12 minutes. Suicide is one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. Suicide rates are higher in rural America than in urban America. The gap in suicide rates between rural and urban areas grew steadily from 1999 to 2015. Since 2007, the gap began widening more quickly. White Non-Hispanics have the highest suicide rates in urban areas (metropolitan counties) while American Indian and Alaska Native Non-Hispanics have the highest rates in rural areas. Suicide is preventable with multiple, comprehensive suicide prevention strategies that may include innovative ways to increase access to healthcare and mental healthcare in rural counties.