US-Bundesstaaten nach Selbstmordraten von Teenagern (15-19 Jahre) von 2020 bis 2022 im Alter von 15 bis 19 Jahren

Very sad map

Small towns + long distance to escape = hopelessness. (Ed: typo.)

it’s almost like feeling trapped and not having a future has a role to play

It kind of looks like this could just be a measure of teen isolation. Interesting that New York – the place in the country where teens are most likely to be able to move around independently – is the lowest. Another win for walkable communities?

The big reasons the Western part of America is more suicidal is due to a few reason as a Montanan myself. I’d say reservations have a big suicide rate due to lack of support and care from the federal government. There are more reservations In western America.

Rurality & isolation: rural and frontier areas have higher suicide rates overall. People in sparsely populated areas are more likely to be isolated, have fewer social supports, and face stigma about seeking help.

Firearms: firearms are a common and highly lethal method of suicide. Higher gun ownership and easier access to firearms in many Western/rural communities increases suicide fatality rates.

Reduced access to mental-health care and economic stressors: long distances to providers, shortages of behavioral health clinicians, and local economic hardship contribute to untreated depression, substance misuse, and delayed help.