Citation

Fowler KA, Gladden RM, Vagi KJ, Barnes J, Frazier L. Am. J. Public Health 2014; 105(2): 311-316.

Affiliation

The authors are with the Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2014.301945

PMID

25033148

Abstract

OBJECTIVEs. We aimed to determine the frequency, characteristics, and precipitating circumstances of eviction- and foreclosure-related suicides during the US housing crisis, which resulted in historically high foreclosures and increased evictions beginning in 2006.

METHODS. We examined all eviction- and foreclosure-related suicides in the years 2005 to 2010 in 16 states in the National Violent Death Reporting System, a surveillance system for all violent deaths within participating states that abstracts information across multiple investigative sources (e.g., law enforcement, coroners, medical examiners).

RESULTS. We identified 929 eviction- or foreclosure-related suicides. Eviction- and foreclosure-related suicides doubled from 2005 to 2010 (n = 88 in 2005; n = 176 in 2010), mostly because of foreclosure-related suicides, which increased 253% from 2005 (n = 30) to 2010 (n = 106). Most suicides occurred before the actual housing loss (79%), and 37% of decedents experienced acute eviction or foreclosure crises within 2 weeks of the suicide.

CONCLUSIONS. Housing loss is a significant crisis that can precipitate suicide. Prevention strategies include support for those projected to lose homes, intervention before move-out date, training financial professionals to recognize warning signs, and strengthening population-wide suicide prevention measures during economic crises. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 17, 2014: e1-e6. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.301945).

Language: en