Rural Suicide Rates Are Rising In Kansas And Solutions Won't Come Easy
High Plains Public Radio | By David Condos
Kansas News Service
Sparsely populated communities face unique challenges, such as isolation and cultural stigmas about mental health, that call for tailored suicide prevention approaches.
HAYS, Kansas — Kyle Carlin understands first-hand how hard a mental health crisis can hit in rural Kansas.
He dealt with depression starting as a teenager. It eventually led him to attempt suicide.
But he didn’t think about seeking counseling until he was preparing to leave the Army Reserve in Hays roughly 12 years ago. Even then, asking for help wasn’t easy.
“Stigma is such a big issue around mental health,” Carlin said, “especially in western Kansas.”
His story illustrates a growing trend stressing rural communities across Kansas and the nation.