ST. PAUL, Minn. – The State Department of Health says Minnesota’s suicide rate remained unchanged in 2024 compared to the year before.
Preliminary data shows the state’s suicide rate last year in entirely rural counties was twice that of the Twin Cities metro counties. rural counties make up about 1.6% of the Minnesota population and 2.8% of all suicide deaths.
When it comes to the higher rates in rural areas, the department says some of the contributing factors putting residents more at risk for suicide could include higher rates of firearm ownership, less access to health and mental health care, and higher poverty rates than in urban areas.
Firearm injuries made up the majority (51%) of suicide deaths in 2024. While guns have been the leading injury mechanism in suicide deaths for decades, the percentage is higher than in recent years.
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