Investigating Suicide Risk Factors Among Appalachian West Virginian Adults

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Suicide rates have risen in the U.S. over two decades, with rural areas like Appalachia facing heightened risks due to economic hardship, social isolation, and limited mental health services.
• Understanding specific drivers of suicide risk in diverse geographic settings is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate lifetime suicide risk factors in West Virginia (WV), a state within the Appalachian Region.
• To identify urban-rural differences in suicide risk to inform tailored interventions for WV and the broader Appalachian Region.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 2021 Mountain State Assessment of Trends in Community Health (MATCH) survey data (N=372,665).
• Logistic regression models examined socioeconomic and related factors associated with lifetime suicide risk (measured by SBQ-R).
• Models were stratified by rural-urban residence using 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) to assess disparities.

Main Results:

• 27.5% of respondents reported lifetime suicide risk; those with suicidal thoughts were younger, unmarried, in poorer health, and often Medicaid recipients.
• Despite WV's rural nature, 60.21% lived in urban-classified counties.
• Rural residents exhibited lower odds of suicidal thoughts (aOR=0.87), while substance use (aOR=3.75), unmarried status (aOR=1.51), and mental health disorders (aOR=2.93) were significant risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Suicide risk factors in WV, including substance use and mental health disorders, necessitate specific prevention strategies.
• Findings highlight the need for further research into regional variations within Appalachia to develop targeted interventions.