Economic Recession, Alcohol, and Suicide Rates: Comparative Effects of Poverty, Foreclosure, and Job Loss

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide rates and alcohol-involved suicides increased during the 2008-2009 recession.
• Economic downturns may exacerbate suicide risk.
• Understanding the link between socioeconomic factors and suicide is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate associations between county-level poverty, foreclosures, and unemployment and suicide rates.
• To examine the relationship between these economic factors and the proportion of alcohol-involved suicides.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2005-2011 National Violent Death Reporting System data from 16 states.
• Calculated county-level suicide rates and alcohol involvement measures.
• Employed panel models with fixed effects, including county-level economic indicators.

Main Results:

• Poverty rates strongly correlated with suicide rates across genders and ages.
• Poverty showed mixed associations with alcohol involvement in suicides by age and gender.
• Foreclosure rates had varied associations with suicide rates by gender and age group.
• Unemployment effects on suicide were mediated by poverty.

Conclusions:

• County-level poverty is a significant risk factor for suicide.
• Targeting poverty reduction programs can mitigate suicide risk.
• Alcohol plays a role in suicide for some demographics, but non-economic factors are also important.