Aug. 19 (UPI) — At increasing rates, Americans who live in rural areas are more likely to commit suicide than those who reside in cities, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
From 2000 to 2018, suicide rates in rural areas in the United States increased 48%, while in cities they grew by 34% over the same period, the agency data showed.
Compared to urban areas, researchers found that rural suicide rates are about 40% higher for men and 25% higher for women.
But the rise in suicide rates — in rural areas and overall — appears to coincide with an increase in the numbers of teens and young adults with mental health disorders, according to the American Psychological Association.