Jackson Free Press

This fact might surprise many people: The risk of suicide is significantly higher in politically conservative areas with easy firearm availability.

The findings, published in September 2013 by Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology are disturbing but not surprising. The South has the second highest suicide rates in the country, following only by the conservative West.

The question is "why?"

The Mayo Clinic reports that suicidal people feel isolated, lonely and overwhelmed by their situation, and they think the only way out is suicide. Suicidal thoughts may manifest after the loss of family member or friend, during financial troubles or after military service. Those with histories of any form of abuse, mental disorders, or addiction and those who are LGBT+ and questioning individuals in unsupportive situations are at a high risk for suicidal thoughts.

Suicide affects men more often than women, and more than 50 percent of transgender youth will have attempted suicide by their 20th birthday, if current trends continue. Mississippi, one of the worst states for LGBT+ individuals, has the 19th highest suicide rates in the country.

The high suicide risk in Mississippi may be because of the problematic nature of old-South culture, an ideology that conservatives have cultivated. Instead of supporting open conversations about complicated emotions and mental health, the culture promotes suppressing these feelings and ignoring difficult problems. There is a strict, tacit "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the South, and too many people, especially women, believe they should only speak when someone has spoken to them.

Many people here see vulnerability as the ultimate weakness, and men, especially, fear being perceived as weak. They repress emotions and do not deal with problems. Instead, they turn to suicide because they are too afraid to ask for help. However, if the individual does decide to seek help, they may not have anyone nearby to turn to.

As the Mayo Clinic states on its website, one of the main causes of suicidal thoughts is overwhelming isolation. In large cities, it is more difficult to feel alone, but it is easy to be lonely out in the suburbs. A recent study by Pew Research Center showed that 75 percent of conservatives prefer to live in a suburban community where the houses are large and far away from each other and even further from businesses and stores.

Being far away from neighbors and businesses creates a feeling of isolation that only advances thoughts of loneliness, depression and, in the worst case, suicide. If a suicidal person is in crisis, but most people are far away, then the individual's feelings of isolation and hopelessness will only worsen.

The red state of Mississippi is brimming with these suburban communities, and this, combined with repressive southern ideas, fosters a high individual suicide risk.

These statistics are not simply numbers; they are relevant to our lives. Suicide is preventable, yet continues to plague this state. Worldlifeexpectancy.com reports that suicide rates are higher in suburban Madison County (with a suicide death rate of 11.56 per 100,000) and Rankin (13.05 per 100,000) counties than in the more urban Hinds County (9.49 per 100,000)—even as the idea persists that Jackson is more dangerous and violent than the suburbs.

These problems are affecting local towns, but Mississippians usually sweep them away with little discussion.

It is time to face the facts: Something needs to change in our state.

There is already a stigma surrounding mental health, and the South's "don't ask don't tell" policy only amplifies it. The only way to end the taboo surrounding these issues is to create a community where it is accepted to speak openly about problems.

Children need to learn that it is OK not to be perfect and to feel hurt, and adults must foster an environment of trust between themselves and young people. LGBT+ individuals need to feel safe, supported and accepted. There must be a willingness, especially in the home, to talk about difficult issues that may not usually be discussed, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and abuse.

Taboos are dangerous, and they prevent individuals from expressing their opinions. It is essential to clear the air of stigmas and fears and make everyone feel safe and accepted. If an open, honest community develops, then the suicide rates may fall.

Emma McNeel is an editorial intern this summer at the JFP. The 15-year-old sophomore enjoys running on the track and cross-country teams at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, learning about the universe, reading books and watching science fiction.