Analyzing the Regional Difference of Suicide Rates in the United States within an Urban-Rural Continuum

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death amongst Americans. Unlike other causes of death, suicide is the only method that is self-inflicted with the intention to end one's own life. This leads researchers to explore the plethora of reasons that may lead people to take their own lives. Previous studies have suggested a link between rural communities and isolationism that may lead to higher rates of depression. This particular research aims to look into any possible relationship between geographic location and suicide rates, particularly the differences in urban areas versus rural areas as a whole. This presentation will combine county-level data on rates of suicide, geographical classification on a rural-urban continuum and other factors such as healthcare access in the hopes of taking a step closer to understanding and reducing suicide rates nationwide.