Droughts are associated with higher suicide risk, according to new researching being presented at AGU’s Fall Meeting. Credit: Jose Antonio Alba/flickr
Demographic differences
The relative risk was also higher in females than males. “Men are often expected to commit more firearm suicide, but women are more at-risk during drought, according to this study,” Abadi said.
Finally, people living outside urban areas had stronger positive associations between drought and suicide than those who lived in metropolitan counties.
“Guns are more accessible and more available outside cities,” particularly in rural and farming communities, Abadi said.
Abadi hopes that this study can help suicide prevention organizations to focus their efforts during drought. Putting more resources into non-urban areas or focusing more on aging populations might be ways to mitigate the amount of these kinds of deaths.
