CDC report points to these 3 community-level factors that affect suicide risk

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that in counties where people have higher incomes, more health insurance coverage and better internet access, there are fewer suicides.

According to CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry, it's all about prevention and the results speak for themselves in programs that have received the right funding.

“We've seen decreases in veteran suicide deaths by 6%, when there was actually an increase in this population,” said Houry. “And we saw a decrease in suicide among youth served by our suicide prevention sites, when the national rate decreased by about half of that.”

Houry added that promoting access to mental health services and improving a person’s overall quality of life are key to reducing suicidal thoughts and actions.

Dr. Alison Cammack with the CDC’s Suicide Prevention Team said access to resources like this is connected to reducing suicide risk.

“In counties where the most households have broadband Internet access, suicide rates were 44% lower than in counties that have the least access,” said Cammack. “And finally, suicide rates were 13% lower in counties with the most household income compared to counties with the lowest household income levels.”

Special attention is given to certain high-risk groups.

“These factors were more strongly associated with suicide rates in some groups of people,” she said, “including American Indian and Alaska Native people.”

While better access to mental health care is essential, said Houry, so is developing housing stability and economic security.

“These are community-level conditions with policies that can save lives,” she said, adding that the report shows providing basic stability and security go a long way toward meaningfully reducing risk.