Gaps in the Records

Unfortunately, suicide information by state has only been released within the past two decades. While we do know that suicide rates for the nation have been rising since the 1950's, we do not know how most individual states rates have changed. This does pose a challenge to sociologist today because there is no past data to which they can compare current rates. However, since the beginning of recorded studies, the West has always had higher suicide rates than the East. While there has been a little fluctuation between the states (for example, Montana was ranked at number one until a new study conducted in 2003 showed Wyoming holds the new number one position), the inter mountain west has consistently held the highest suicide rates in the nation.

Suicide Rates by State

Note the areas in dark red. The darker red areas denote the states with the highest suicide rates. The number label each state is given is their respective suicide rank in the nation. The inter mountain West and Alaska account for nine out of the ten states with the highest suicide rates. When compared to the map below, it is clear that most of the states share the same shade of dark red in each map. While the information below attempts to answer why citizens of these states commit suicide at a higher rate than the rest of the nation, it does label which type of suicide is most prevalent in these states. The majority of the suicides that occur in the West result from a lack of social integration and a lack of resources and regulations. Thus, these suicides can be classified as egoistic and anomic suicides.

Narrowing Root Factors

Most of the west is known for its solitude and lack of general regulations. While many people think this situation would be a paradise, it has proved to be just the opposite. The lack of major cities and industries has created a struggling economy in most of the Mountain West. One's socioeconomic situation has proven to be one of the largest factors that influence suicide. Other states outside the West with lower than average median income rates, such as Kentucky and West Virginia, also have higher suicide rates. Higher suicide rates could result from lower income due to the fact that American largely judge their own self worth by how "successful" they are. And in America, success usually is associated with dollar signs. If people realize they are in a situation where their geographic location hinders their success, then they very well may believe they are in a dead end and hopeless situation and may decide to give up rather than fight the system.

Socioeconomic situations also directly affect one's ability to obtain medical and professional help. Availability of these luxuries has been labeled a potential factor of suicide. However, if a geographic region has a lower socioeconomic status, then generally they will have a lower chance of obtained sufficient healthcare, which could potentially increase suicide rates.

Ultimately, it appears as if the largest contributing factor to suicide in the West is the poor socioeconomic conditions. As previously mentioned, there are numerous factors that contribute to suicide, however the prevailing poor socioeconomic status of the Inter Mountain West be the chief factor.

Mental Health America: Ranking America's Depression

Percentage of Adults who have experienced a "major depressive episode"

In 2007, The institute Mental Health America published a study which attempted to rank the fifty U.S. states in terms of overall mental health. Not surprisingly, four states in the inter mountain West ranked among the top ten states with the worst overall mental health. Utah topped the list with over ten percent of adults experiencing severe depression within the past year. They average participant from Utah in the survey claimed they had 3.27 "poor mental health days" within the past month. From the map above, we can see a relatioship between the rate of people who have had a major depressive episode and the rate of suicide. Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Oregon all top the list as states with the poorest mental health. These states also happen to have the highest suicide rates in the nation.

The institution found that in many cases, the states with the worst mental health experienced the highest suicide rates. It would be safe to say then that mental health is closely linked to suicide. The real question is what causes poor mental health conditions, and consequently, high suicide rates? Mental Health America has isolated the four largest factors that affect suicide rates. The factors are: mental health resources, barriers to treatment, mental health treatment utilization, socioeconomic characteristics. These factors are the most probable reasons why people in the inter mountain West commint suicide at a significantly higher rate than the rest of the nation.

• Mental Health Resources

It is interesting to note that suicide rates are directly proportional to the number of registered psychiatrist and psychologist. The higher the number of mental health advisers, the lower the suicide rates. Alaska, ranked fourth in the nation for its suicide rate, is ranked 42nd for the number of psychologist per capita. Idaho, also ranked among the top ten for its suicide rate, is ranked 44th in the nation in terms of the number of psychologist per capita. (http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/pro/22/6/images/pro_22_6_427_tbl2a.gif ) This could indeed be one explanation for the high suicide rates in the west.

• Barriers to Treatment

States that have a high number of people who report that they are unable to meet their healthcare needs due to cost or other barriers also have a high suicide rates. The more easily accessible health care in a state, the better the overall mental health of its citizens.

• Mental Health Treatment Utilization

States with the highest percentage of antidepressant prescription per capita have the lowest suicide rates. This could also be associated to resources and barriers to treatment. It appears as if suicide rates are highest when people either refuse to seek to or are unable to obtain treatment.

• Socioeconomic Characteristics

States with the highest levels of education statistically have lowest suicide rankings. Also states with higher percentages of insured citizens statistically have lower suicide rates. A states gross domestic product (GDP) can also be a major contributing factor in suicide rates. Wyoming, Montana, Alaska and Idaho are ranked 48,46,45 and 42 respectively in terms of GDP per person. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_GDP_(nominal)

More than likely, not one of these explanations is solely responsible for the high suicide rates of the inter mountain west. Rather, these factors combined create the situation that allows suicide rates to be much higher on this specific geographic region.

Source: Ranking America's Mental Health: An analysis of Depression Across the States. Mental Health America. 2009. < http://www.nmha.org/go/state-ranking>

States of the Intermoutain West are found to have Highest Suicide Rates in the Country

Vast open plains, towering granite peaks, and the pioneer spirit are what most people picture when they picture the America West. Since the begining of formal studies, the highest suicide rates in the nation have been found in the intermountain west. Sociologist often are puzzeled by this odd phenomonon. Why are suicide rates so high in the most relaxed and serene part of the country? Numerous theories have been put forth attempting to answer this half century old riddle. Several of these studies will be cited through out this report, which will ultimately attempt to uncover the priciple factor that fuels this cycle.