The 15 Most Suicidal Cities In America
It won't surprise anyone to learn that Las Vegas has the highest suicide rate in America.
At 34.5 per 100,000 people annually, Sin City scores over three times above the national rate of 10.7. One assumes there are many more people thinking about killing themselves every night when the wrong cards land.
As for other suicidal cities, there's no clear pattern.
Researchers found that happy areas may have higher rates than sad areas, according to KLTV 7: "Deep down we are creatures of comparison, even though we may not always realize that," explained [economist Andrew Oswald], so living in a place where there are lots of satisfied people may make depressed people feel even more desolate.
#15 Tulsa, Okla.
Annual rate: 14.5 per 100,000 people annually From 1990-2004, Tulsa had a 50.1% change in suicide rates -- the highest was 34.2 in 2002.
In 2008, Tulsa's suicide rates made headlines again when three Edison Preparatory School students killed themselves and school officials called the situation a crisis.
#14 Phoenix, Ariz.
Annual rate: 14.7 per 100,000 people annually From 1990-2004, Phoenix had a 22.3% change in suicidal rates, reaching the high mark in 1995 with an annual rate of 19.
According to The Arizona Republic, the state of Arizona is "consistently among the most deadly states in the nation for gun violence" and Phoenix -- along with Mesa and Tucson -- is ranked among the nation's top four for firearms licensing.
According to city-data, Phoenix has an unemployment rate of 10% as of March 2011.
#13 Fresno, Calif.
Annual rate: 14.8 per 100,000 people annually From 1990 to 2004, there was an 11% change in suicide rates in Fresno with a peak reached at 19.2 in 1992.
According to city-data, Fresno has an alarming unemployment rate of 17.3% as of March 2011. In 2009, Fresno's crime index was 412.1 compared to the average U.S. crime index of 279 in the same year.
#12 Portland, Ore.
Annual rate: 15.1 per 100,000 people annually Between 1990 and 2004, there was a 12.9 percent change in suicide rates in Portland with a high of a 21.6 annual rate in 1994.
Bloomberg Business reports:
"The Oregon suicide and drug and alcohol help lines received 71% more calls in January 2009 than it did the previous January, including more calls from people having suicidal thoughts because of severe financial stress."
According to city-data, Portland has an unemployment rate of 9.5% as of March 2011.
#11 Pittsburgh, Pa.
Annual rate: 15.2 per 100,000 people annually Pittsburgh has a crime index of 440.7 compared to the average U.S. crime index of 279 in 2009.
According to city-data, Pittsburgh has an unemployment rate of 7.3% as of March 2011.
#10 Wichita, Kan.
Annual rate: 15.2 per 100,000 people annually According to city-data, Wichita has an unemployment rate of 9.2% as of March 2011.
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Originally Posted by badger
