High Native suicide rates linked to insurance, income and internet service

‘Holding onto those traditions and celebrating cultural traditions and being part of a community can actually help reduce suicide’

Now, here’s a surprise. The more broadband Internet access a community has, the lower the suicide rates are. The same goes for health insurance and income. The better health insurance coverage and the higher the incomes, the lower the rate of suicide.

Those factors weigh more heavily among American Indians and Alaska Natives than the general population. That information is in a report the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention released Tuesay, on National Suicide Prevention Day and for Suicide Prevention Month.

Experts say Native Americans serve in the military at the highest per-capita rate of any ethnic group, and when returning from combat, veterans may experience social isolation that leads to anxiety, PTSD, and unfortunately, suicide.

In a prepared statement, the CDC said the latest data, from 2022, shows suicide rates were:

• 26 percent lower in counties with the highest health insurance coverage

• 44 percent lower in counties where most homes have broadband internet access

• 13 percent lower in counties with the most household income

CDC’s thinking is that insurance brings better preventive health services and mental health care. Higher income brings food, housing, and health care. And the internet brings increased access to jobs and economic opportunities as well as connection to friends and family and to telehealth.

“These factors were more strongly associated with suicide rates in some groups of people, including American Indian and Alaska Native people,” said the statement. “Suicide rates for American Indian and Alaska Native people in counties with the lowest percentages of these three factors, were twice the rate of counties with the lowest percentage of these three factors.”

Senior Advisor Deborah Stone, with the CDC Suicide Prevention Team, told ICT, “When we say twice the rate, that’s comparing the suicide death rate among American Indian, Alaska Native persons or people who lived in counties with the highest level of the three factors versus those who lived in counties with the lowest level of those three factors.”

CDC Health Scientist Alison Cammack told ICT, “We found when you look at overall suicide rates, and this is well known, that American Indian, Alaska Native people have the highest suicide rates of any racial or ethnic group.” The CDC’s latest figures show the overall suicide rate was 14 per 100,000. Rates were highest among American Indian or Alaska Native persons (27.1) Rates were also higher for males (23.0), and rural residents (20.0).

The CDC report draws upon the 2022 National Vital Statistics System and other federal data sources. The report’s authors sorted the findings by race and ethnicity, sex, age, and urbanicity.

Stone said suicide is a complex problem and some factors are more important than others in certain racial and ethnic minority groups.

“For instance, we know that historical trauma and discrimination and other things like that can affect American Indian, Alaska Native populations as well as other racial and ethnic minority populations. And conversely, we know that holding onto those traditions and celebrating cultural traditions and being part of a community can actually help reduce suicide. And so it may be that some of what we’re seeing is related to connectedness that may be occurring as far as broadband use goes. That may be one of the things that is particularly important,” Stone said.

Cassandra Morgan, Navajo, heads the Diné Naazbaa Partnership, a nonprofit that works to connect veterans to resources and opportunities.

Morgan said the goal of her organization is for veterans to achieve a balanced and harmonious life. She said community is vitally important in suicide prevention, both in connecting veterans to resources and in communicating to others how they can help veterans. She said the lack of services and resources in rural areas, language and cultural barriers, and distances to get to Veterans Administration appointments, are all challenges.

She said the goal is to build a multitude of supports, to avoid, “the domino effect of not having a job, not having cars, your car breaks down, you know, it starts going from there and then goes down to a dark road.

“And so that’s what we try to go ahead and, and alleviate and help them with these, these small things because the small things can, can start to build up into a big giant snowball. And then they feel like there’s no way to alleviate their situation and they start looking at that darker avenue,” Morgan said.

“So let’s bring it here to Navajo (Nation) so we can help our veterans. You served alongside everybody else, you served all these things for this country,” She said women veterans also need to speak up and be honored for their sacrifice, their time of service to this country.

To all veterans, Morgan said, “You’re eligible for these things and let’s use them here so you can have a better quality of life.”

CDC said crisis lines are critically important to suicide prevention but to prevent suicide further upstream, decision-makers, government agencies and communities can look at the CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action. More information is also available at a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The Veterans Administration also has resources..

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, recently awarded $68 million in grants for suicide prevention and mental health care programs.

“Every September we recognize Suicide Prevention Month as a time to raise awareness—to remind those struggling that they are not alone and that there is hope. Many people who have experienced suicidal thoughts are alive today because they got help,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Dial 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for help; available 24 hours.