Critical gaps in understanding firearm suicide in Hispanic communities: demographics, mental health, and access to care

Abstract

Suicide rates increased by 26.7% among Hispanics from 2015-2020, driven at least in part by highly-lethal firearm suicide deaths. However, there are critical gaps in characterizing firearm suicide risks and prevention opportunities in Hispanic communities. We examined Hispanic adult firearm suicide decedents reported through the National Violent Death Reporting System from 2013-2019, focusing on demographic characteristics, firearm choices, suicidal thoughts/behaviors, mental health, and mental health treatment, compared to non-Hispanic adult firearm suicide decedents. Only 13.8% of Hispanic firearm suicide decedents were known to be undergoing treatment for a mental health or substance use problem prior to death, compared to 18.8% of non-Hispanic firearm suicide decedents. On average, Hispanic firearm suicide decedents were 19.0% less likely than non-Hispanic firearm suicide decedents known to have been treated for a mental health or substance use problem. These results may underscore the critical need for public health agencies and policymakers to promote initiatives integrating mental health screening into medical care, reducing mental health stigma among Hispanics, and expanding mental health treatment capacity in Hispanic communities.

Utah Latina/o/x suicide decedents less likely to die by firearm, even in rural areas: examining population-wide data from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner

“…Critically, little is known about the epidemiology of firearm suicide death within Latina/o/x populations ( 9 ). In general, access to firearms – the most common and lethal method of suicide death ( 10 , 11 ) – exacerbates suicide risk ( 12 , 13 ).…”

“…The authors found that, although there was a higher suicide rate in rural Maryland counties than urban counties, the difference in the suicide rate was limited to firearm suicide deaths and did not exist when only evaluating non-firearm suicide deaths. Other recent studies examining large, national samples of firearm suicide decedents have indicated that Latina/o/x and non-Latina/o/x firearm suicide decedents typically differ demographically (e.g., younger) ( 9 ). However, despite Latina/o/x individuals currently representing the largest share of the rural minority population in the U.S. ( 24 ), previous studies have not specifically investigated whether or why firearm suicide rates differ between Latina/o/x and non-Latina/o/x individuals in rural areas.…”

Novel Telehealth Adaptations for Evidence-Based Outpatient Suicide Treatment: Feasibility and Effectiveness of the Crisis Care Program

“…Access and connection to care is limited for individuals at risk for suicide, with a recent meta-analysis suggesting that fewer than 26% of individuals who died by suicide had contact with inpatient or outpatient mental health services within the year prior to their death [17,18]. Barriers to accessing mental healthcare services disproportionately impact certain populations, such as those in rural areas and minority populations [19,20]. To mitigate such barriers and enhance access within a stepped-care model, digital interventions and telehealth treatments have been identified as valuable care options [19,21,22].…”