The U.S. housing crisis and suicide rates: an examination of total-, sex-, and race-specific suicide rates

The US housing crisis affected millions of people nationwide. One recent study found a connection between foreclosure and suicide, and prior research showed an association between macro-level economic hardship and suicide rates. Using data from 142 US metropolitan statistical areas and a measure of housing stress that accounts for limitations of prior measures, we tested the association between the housing crisis and overall and sex- and race-specific suicide rates. Weighted least squares regression results indicated that housing-mortgage stress had no effect on suicide rates in our sample. We discuss the theoretical and social implications of these findings and areas for future research.