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Increase in suicides associated with home eviction and foreclosure during the US housing crisis: Findings from 16 national violent death reporting system states, 2005-2010

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  • Fowler, K.A.
  • Gladden, R.M.
  • Vagi, K.J.
  • Barnes, J.
  • Frazier, L.

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. Evictionand 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Fowler, K.A. & Gladden, R.M. & Vagi, K.J. & Barnes, J. & Frazier, L., 2015. "Increase in suicides associated with home eviction and foreclosure during the US housing crisis: Findings from 16 national violent death reporting system states, 2005-2010," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(2), pages 311-316.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301945_1
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301945
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    Cited by:

    1. John Eric Humphries & Nicholas Mader & Daniel Tannenbaum & Winnie van Dijk, 2019. "Does Eviction Cause Poverty? Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Cook County, IL," CESifo Working Paper Series 7800, CESifo.
    2. Park, Gum-Ryeong, 2024. "Housing cost burden and external causes of mortality: Variations across housing regimes in high-income countries, 2010–2020," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 345(C).
    3. Yi-Lung Chen & Dian-Jeng Li & Ying-Yeh Chen & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2024. "The impact of housing-price-related indices on suicide rates in Taiwan," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(1), pages 40-47, February.
    4. Jie Tang & Nanqian Chen & Hailun Liang & Xu Gao, 2022. "The Effect of Built Environment on Physical Health and Mental Health of Adults: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Vásquez-Vera, Hugo & Palència, Laia & Magna, Ingrid & Mena, Carlos & Neira, Jaime & Borrell, Carme, 2017. "The threat of home eviction and its effects on health through the equity lens: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 199-208.
    6. Ashley C. Bradford & Johanna Catherine Maclean, 2024. "Evictions and psychiatric treatment," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(1), pages 87-125, January.
    7. Yerko Rojas, 2017. "Evictions and short-term all-cause mortality: a 3-year follow-up study of a middle-aged Swedish population," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(3), pages 343-351, April.
    8. Olivia Guerra & Vincent I. O. Agyapong & Nnamdi Nkire, 2022. "A Qualitative Scoping Review of the Impacts of Economic Recessions on Mental Health: Implications for Practice and Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-19, May.
    9. Gintare Mazeikaite & Cathal O’Donoghue & Denisa M. Sologon, 2019. "The Great Recession, financial strain and self-assessed health in Ireland," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 20(4), pages 579-596, June.
    10. Richard Duckworth & Michael Lucas & Ben Miller & Shiraj Pokharel & Elora Raymond, 2016. "Corporate Landlords, Institutional Investors, and Displacement: Eviction Rates in SingleFamily Rentals," FRB Atlanta Community and Economic Development Discussion Paper 2016-4, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    11. Fetzer, Thiemo & Sen, Srinjoy & Souza, Pedro CL, 2019. "Housing insecurity, homelessness and populism: Evidence from the UK," CEPR Discussion Papers 14184, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    12. Andrius Kučas & Boyan Kavalov & Carlo Lavalle, 2020. "Living Cost Gap in the European Union Member States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-26, October.
    13. Downing, Janelle, 2016. "The health effects of the foreclosure crisis and unaffordable housing: A systematic review and explanation of evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 88-96.
    14. Mariola Bernal-Solano & Julia Bolívar-Muñoz & Inmaculada Mateo-Rodríguez & Humbelina Robles-Ortega & Maria del Carmen Fernández-Santaella & José Luís Mata-Martín & Jaime Vila-Castellar & Antonio Dapon, 2019. "Associations between Home Foreclosure and Health Outcomes in a Spanish City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, March.

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