Associations between mental health shortage areas and county-level suicide rates among adults aged 25 and older in the USA, 2010 to 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 44-50
Author(s):  
Benson S. Ku ◽  
Jianheng Li ◽  
Cathy Lally ◽  
Michael T. Compton ◽  
Benjamin G. Druss
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
County Level ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
The Usa

A spatial analysis of suicide rates in Tennessee

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 2325-2335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdinand Gabriel Difurio ◽  
Willis Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
County Level ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
National Norms

Purpose Suicide rates at the county level may be influenced by various macro-level factors emanating from surrounding communities. The purpose of this paper is to measure the extent of geographic spillover effects from socioeconomic factors on suicide rates. Design/methodology/approach Using county level, panel data over the years 2002-2007, a spatial dependence function is applied to measure how socioeconomic factors within surrounding counties may influence suicide rates in neighboring, adjacent counties in the state of TN. Findings A negative correlation is identified between divorce and suicide rates within each county, which seems to contradict traditional beliefs that these variables move together. Also contrary to expectations, unemployment and suicide are not significantly related within counties. When the analysis measures the spillover effects of surrounding communities, county-level variables such as income, crime, and church density are significant. And although the signs on income and crime are consistent with past findings, church density counters research expectations. Practical implications These results suggest that certain socioeconomic factors influence suicide in surrounding communities, while others do not. Incorporating spatial analysis into future research on suicide and mental health may assist practitioners with suicide prevention. Appropriate prevention policies should be designed and implemented at the local or regional level. Regional differences make broad policies based on national data inappropriate for local areas that differ from national norms. Originality/value Studies on the external links to suicide and suicide rates have made significant contributions to raise the understanding about mental health issues. Very few, however, have directly employed research methods to capture spillover effects when the study encompasses spatial elements.

The Impact of Natural Disasters on Suicide in the United States, 2003–2015

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Horney ◽  
Ibraheem M. Karaye ◽  
Alexander Abuabara ◽  
Sera Gearhart ◽  
Shannon Grabich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Population Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
County Level ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Disaster Declarations ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Background: Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity and impacted populations develop mental health conditions at higher rates than those not impacted. Aims: In this study, we investigate the association between exposure to a major natural disaster and suicide in the US. Method: Using county-level data on disaster declarations, mortality files, and population data, suicide rates were estimated for three 12-month periods before and after the disaster. Pooled rates were estimated predisaster and compared with postdisaster suicide rates using Poisson-generated Z tests and 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 281 major disasters were included. The suicide rate increased for each type of disaster and across all disasters in the first 2 years of follow-up. The largest overall increases in suicide rates were seen 2 years postdisaster. Limitations: Limitations include the ecologic study design, county-level exposure, and low power. Conclusion: Increases in county-level suicide rates after disasters were not statistically significant, although there was evidence that increases were delayed until 2 years postdisaster. Additional studies are needed to improve understanding of nonfatal suicide attempts after disasters and the role elevated social support plays in suicide prevention postdisaster. Future studies should consider pre-existing mental health, secondary stressors, and proximity to hazards.

scholarly journals Suicide-related Twitter Content in Response to a National Mental Health Awareness Campaign and the Association between the Campaign and Suicide Rates in Ontario

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-467
Author(s):  
David Côté ◽  
Marissa Williams ◽  
Rabia Zaheer ◽  
Thomas Niederkrotenthaler ◽  
Ayal Schaffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Behavioral Outcomes ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Control Window ◽  
National Mental Health

Objective: Mental health awareness (MHA) campaigns have been shown to be successful in improving mental health literacy, decreasing stigma, and generating public discussion. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the effects of these campaigns on behavioral outcomes such as suicides. Therefore, the objective of this article is to characterize the association between the event and suicide in Canada’s most populous province and the content of suicide-related tweets referencing a Canadian MHA campaign (Bell Let’s Talk Day [BLTD]). Methods: Suicide counts during the week of BTLD were compared to a control window (2011 to 2016) to test for associations between the BLTD event and suicide. Suicide tweets geolocated to Ontario, posted in 2016 with the BLTD hashtag were coded for specific putatively harmful and protective content. Results: There was no associated change in suicide counts. Tweets ( n = 3,763) mainly included content related to general comments about suicide death (68%) and suicide being a problem (42.8%) with little putatively helpful content such as stories of resilience (0.6%) and messages of hope (2.2%). Conclusions: In Ontario, this national mental health media campaign was associated with a high volume of suicide-related tweets but not necessarily including content expected to diminish suicide rates. Campaigns like BLTD should strongly consider greater attention to suicide-related messaging that promotes help-seeking and resilience. This may help to further decrease stigmatization, and potentially, reduce suicide rates.

scholarly journals Mental health policy issues and development in Lithuania

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I R Rubikas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Mental Health Policies ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Background Lithuanian has experienced rapid and relatively successful transition to capitalism and transatlantic-Western values and practices in recent decades. Suicide and legal alcohol consumption rates remain the highest in the EU and OECD, and Lithuania's Positive emotions index score has been consistently amongst the 10 lowest in the world in recent years. Emigration rate is the highest in the EU and OECD, social inequality is amongst the highest in the same groups. Despite a relatively strong economy these changes are not automatically transferred to better social and emotional well-being. Methods This unconventional situation calls for strong and unconventional policy responses in the area of mental health, amongst others. Health impact assessment using theory-based approach and desk research. Results Recent attempts include strategic reorientation towards social and emotional well-being, stronger focus on prevention and promotion and primary care, intensifying efforts to reduce suicide rates, and implementation of strong regulatory measures to reduce alcohol use. Suicide rates have been declining since 2013 but remain high. Effort is made to implement best practices in media reporting, recognition and providing appropriate help for those in suicide crisis, expanding prevention efforts. Conclusions Finally, WHOs “best buys” in alcohol control were implemented since 2017, including steep increases in excise taxes, ban on alcohol advertisement, increase of allowed age, reducing alcohol trading hours and others. This resulted in the steepest decline of legal alcohol consumption in decades. The chosen policy route may be called iterative policy-making, whereby improvements are made along the way, which allows for quicker policy decisions and results. Key messages Mental health policies need to be based on the socio-political context of the specific country. Smaller countries such as Lithuania might benefit form flexible approaches to mental health policies.

scholarly journals When rebuilding no longer means recovery: the stress of staying put after Hurricane Sandy

2021 ◽  
Vol 165 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Koslov ◽  
Alexis Merdjanoff ◽  
Elana Sulakshana ◽  
Eric Klinenberg
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Flood Insurance ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Policy Shifts ◽  
Post Disaster

AbstractAfter a disaster, it is common to equate repopulation and rebuilding with recovery. Numerous studies link post-disaster relocation to adverse social, economic, and health outcomes. However, there is a need to reconsider these relationships in light of accelerating climate change and associated social and policy shifts in the USA, including the rising cost of flood insurance, the challenge of obtaining aid to rebuild, and growing interest in “managed retreat” from places at greatest risk. This article presents data from a survey of individuals who opted either to rebuild in place or relocate with the help of a voluntary home buyout after Hurricane Sandy. Findings show those who lived in buyout-eligible areas and relocated were significantly less likely to report worsened stress than those who rebuilt in place. This suggests access to a government-supported voluntary relocation option may, under certain circumstances, lessen the negative mental health consequences associated with disaster-related housing damage.

scholarly journals Publisher Correction: Estimating and explaining the spread of COVID-19 at the county level in the USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony R. Ives ◽  
Claudio Bozzuto
Keyword(s):  
County Level ◽  
The Usa

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01679-0.

County-Level Estimates of Mental Health Professional Supply in the United States

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 1315-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Ellis ◽  
Thomas R. Konrad ◽  
Kathleen C. Thomas ◽  
Joseph P. Morrissey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Mental Health Professional ◽  
The United States ◽  
County Level

Effect of the FDA Black Box Suicidality Warnings for Antidepressants on Suicide Rates in the USA

Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Plöderl ◽  
Michael Pascal Hengartner
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Black Box ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Black Box Warnings ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Random Fluctuations

Abstract. Background: Some authors claimed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) black box warning on treatment-emergent suicidality with antidepressants in adolescents (issued 2004) and young adults (issued 2006) led to an increase of suicides, based on the analyses of ecological data with debatable assumptions about putative changes in suicide rates. Aims: To explore if putative changes in suicide rates in adolescents and young adults at the time of the FDA warnings is a detectable signal in the data or compatible with random fluctuations. Method: We applied different changepoint analyses for adolescent and young adult suicide rates from 1981 to 2019 in the USA. Results: Changepoint analysis did not support a detrimental effect of the FDA black box warnings. The downward trend of suicides reversed several years after the warning in adolescents (2007–2009) and many years before in young adults (1999–2001). Limitations: Our analyses cannot rule out detrimental effects of the FDA warnings. However, even if there was such an effect, it was likely small and indistinguishable from random fluctuations in the available suicide data. Conclusion: There is no detectable change of trend in adolescent or young adult suicide rates in line with a detrimental effect of the FDA black box warnings on treatment-emergent suicidality.

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