Suicide rates are rising in the United States and rural areas are being hit the hardest, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As WebMD reports,in the years from 2001 and 2015, suicide rates in the U.S. rose 20 percent. During that period, half a million Americans took their own lives. The problem in small towns was consistently worse than in urban areas, with rural areas showing higher suicide rates across all age groups.
Adults aged 35-64 were shown to be most at risk.
Rural counties saw 17 suicides per 100,000 people, compared to less than 12 per 100,000 in metropolitan counties. Suicide rates in rural areas are highest among Native Americans.
Suicide by firearm is rising in all regions of America. Rural residents are twice as likely to use guns to commit suicide as urban dwellers.