CDC report: Increasing broadband access may help decrease U.S. suicide rates

Washington, D.C. (November 19, 2024) – The push to connect all Americans to broadband (high-speed internet) through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is about a whole lot more than just dog and cat videos.

Everyone learned during the pandemic how vital high-speed internet is for telework, remote learning, and government services. But new research shows an even more critical side of having that access — it can be a literal lifeline for those struggling with thoughts of suicide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a “Vital Signs” report that examined county-level factors tied to suicide risk. Researchers found that insurance coverage, household income, and broadband (high-speed internet) access can play a role in lowering the risk of suicide.

Even more interesting from Connected Nation’s (CN) point-of-view is that broadband access was credited with the highest percentage of that impact.

According to the report, suicide rates were:

• 26% lower in counties with the highest health insurance coverage
• 13% lower in counties with the most household income
• 44% lower in counties where most homes have broadband access

To me — it’s both surprising and unsurprising to see how significantly broadband factors into that equation.

For one, all of us at CN work to expand access, adoption, and use of broadband and its related technologies. We do this because to be left out of a digital world means losing out on opportunities and resources surrounding education, jobs, government services, and so much more — including telehealth and social connection.

CN’s research team began our cutting-edge research on the use and perceptions of telehealth even before the pandemic forced us all inside. The most recent study came out just last month.

Each time, we’ve found that access to telehealth, which often requires access to broadband, ultimately helps people. Among other things, it can save patients time and money, allows them to reach more specialists, and can connect them to mental health practitioners in a more comfortable environment — their homes.

In addition, having a high-speed internet connection is one way for us to cope with feelings of isolation and connect to one another — in fact, it may even save lives.

Many people use social media to keep up with friends and family. It gives minority voices a way to share their ideas without a gatekeeper. It provides ways to express yourself and even provides an outlet for frustration. It opens the world up to us all and can create a space for sharing our ideas, art, music, and so much more with one another.

At the same time, I recognize there are many negatives to having high-speed internet. People are more likely to encounter money scams and cyber threats, and unfortunately, a mean-spiritedness reserved especially for the faceless interactions that take place online. This basic breakdown in civility can flourish even within and amongst family members and friend groups.  Few are totally immune.

Still however, the pros far outweigh the cons, which is evident by the CDC’s findings.

Another thing that struck me about this report was how risks are divided down socioeconomic lines. Researchers found that suicide rates were “13% lower in counties with the most household income.”  The correlation is, perhaps, even more significant when you consider that 43% of low-income families are in the Digital Divide, as are 13.23% of Tribal residents.

I bring up the latter because when you look at suicide rates across the country, Tribal Nations are among the hardest hit. The report notes the following statistics:

“Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34, and other groups continue to have high rates: American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons (27.1 per 100,000), males (23.0 per 100,000), rural residents (20.0 per 100,000), and people aged 45 to 64 (19 per 100,000).”

In addition, our nation’s veterans suffer at a higher rate than civilians. The CDC noted that in 2021, the unadjusted suicide rate was an alarming 33.9 for U.S. veterans compared with 16.7 for non-veteran adults.

Veterans and Native Americans are not only disproportionately in low-income households, but they are also more likely to live in rural areas that often lack adequate broadband. The data shows suicide most acutely impacts some of our country’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised populations — many of whom have served their country.

We must do better — and this study gives us a guide to some of the steps we can take to lower suicide rates now and help those who are struggling.

“Improving the conditions where people are born, grow, live, work, and age is an often-overlooked aspect of suicide prevention,” said Alison Cammack, Ph.D., M.P.H., CDC health scientist and lead author of the report. ”Public health programs that improve conditions in communities, such as those funded by CDC’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program, can help people avoid reaching a crisis point.”

We applaud the work the CDC is doing to try to lower the risks related to suicide. Our tagline is “Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation” for a reason — we genuinely care about the welfare of others. Our mission is rooted in that idea.

That includes ensuring those who are struggling with thoughts of suicide get the help they need. We must work harder to address the root causes of this preventable problem — whether that is expanding broadband access, providing health insurance for those who don’t have it, or finding ways to improve income levels for our most vulnerable.

Head to connectednation.org to learn how our national nonprofit is working to close the Digital Divide.

The suicide hotline is 988. If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of isolation or self-harm, you can text or call that number anytime, 24 hours a day. To access the CDC’s online resources, head to 988 Lifeline.

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7337e1.htm?s_cid=mm7337e1_e  https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0910-vs-suicide-risk.html