CapRadio health care reporter Sammy Caiola is spending six months exploring the high rate of suicide in Amador County and how residents are trying to tackle it.
Like neighboring Calaveras and Mariposa counties — and other rural places throughout Northern California — residents here are at greater risk for suicide than their urban peers. Her project will delve into why people take their own lives, and what solutions might help.
Through personal stories from people directly affected and conversations with those working on prevention, she discovers why those experiencing depression, anxiety, addiction, isolation and other challenges associated with rural living often suffer in silence.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Additional resources for those in Amador County and beyond, including programs for youth, seniors, veterans and Native Americans, can be found here.
This project is funded by a USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism grant.
August 27, 2018 | Sammy Caiola
Veterans are about 22 percent more likely to die by suicide than the rest of the population, according to research from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
August 16, 2018 | Sammy Caiola
Nationally, Native American young adults have higher suicide rates than any other group.
August 12, 2018 | Sammy Caiola
The lack of mental-health professionals in rural areas, combined with geographic isolation, puts residents at heightened risk for suicide.
July 17, 2018 | Sammy Caiola
Amador County has the third highest suicide rate in the state, and CapRadio wants to find out why. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
June 22, 2018
CapRadio health care reporter Sammy Caiola has embarked on a six-month project to explore the high rates of suicide in Northern California’s rural communities. Here's a look at what she's reading on the topic.
