Explaining Suicide Among Blacks and Whites: how Socioeconomic Factors and gun Availability Affect Race-Specific Suicide Rates

Using suicide data from the Mortality Multiple Cause of Death Records & 2000 census data, the authors examined the roles of motivation & opportunity in shaping suicide rates among young white & young black males in American cities. Racial differences in the predictors of suicide were found, although concentrated disadvantage directly affects suicide among young white males, it only raises levels for young black males by increasing access to firearms. This finding was confirmed in additional analyses, which examined th effects of concentrated disadvantage on black & white gun & nongun suicides separately. (70 refs.)