A Penn State-led study has uncovered significant disparities in the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors across different demographic groups in the United States. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, examines how various demographic factors intersect to influence an individual’s risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
While it is estimated that 12 million adults in the United States contemplate suicide each year, with nearly two million attempting suicide annually, this study goes beyond individual demographic factors and delves into how different factors combine to affect overall risk. Lauren Forrest, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Penn State College of Medicine, led the research, which analyzed data from over 189,000 individuals who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2015 and 2019.
The study’s findings reveal that Hispanic Black bisexual women living in rural areas had the highest prevalence of suicidal ideation, with 20% reporting thoughts of suicide in the year preceding the survey. In contrast, Hispanic heterosexual men living in large metropolitan areas had the lowest prevalence, with only 3% reporting thoughts of suicide during the same period.
The research is based on intersectionality theory, which examines how various forms of discrimination, privilege, and oppression intersect to influence individuals’ experiences and outcomes. Discrimination can occur at multiple levels, from personal interactions to societal structures, and can compound the challenges faced by individuals.
Structural discrimination, such as laws that limit certain individuals’ rights or socially acceptable prejudicial attitudes, can set the stage for discrimination at the interpersonal and community levels. This compounded discrimination, particularly when it intersects with factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, and rurality, can contribute to individuals contemplating or attempting suicide.
Forrest’s ongoing research aims to further understand how structural risk factors, such as structural stigma, interact with individual-level risk factors, like psychiatric disorders, to jointly impact suicide risk among LGBTQIA+ individuals in rural areas. The ultimate goal is to use this data to inform policy decisions related to health equity.
The study underscores the need for mental health providers to consider factors across different levels of influence when assessing and intervening in suicide risk. Understanding how these factors combine can help identify at-risk groups, intervention targets, and effective strategies for addressing health disparities and inequities.
In rural settings where healthcare access may be limited, virtual interventions could prove valuable, especially in addressing the severe discrimination faced by marginalized communities. This research was conducted as part of Forrest’s training as a Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute KL2 Scholar and involved collaboration with various experts in the field.
The study was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute. The researchers declare no conflicts of interest.
The views expressed in this research do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health.
