2022
Author(s): Odabasi S
This study aims to estimate the impacts of climate variation on suicide rates in the USA by using county-level data on temperature, and mental health-related suicides between 2011 and 2020. In addition to climate factors, several socio-economic factors such as uninsured population rate, access to mental health providers, and unemployment rate are included to estimate their impacts on suicides. The estimation is separately performed for female, male and overall groups. The results indicate that while there is limited evidence of the impact of precipitation on suicidal behaviours, the average daily minimum air temperature is an important determinant of the suicides in the US counties.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1504/ijgw.2022.126672