Violence defined includes all acts of interpersonal and intrapersonal violence including domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, homicide, and suicide. Often violence occurring in rural communities is different than violence that permeates the front pages of big city news. Violence rates in rural communities may be as high as urban and suburban communities, just a different type of violence. The problem of violence in rural communities is continually being defined. The Center has on-going projects to assist in defining the scope of the rural youth violence problem.
Suicide is often the dominant, but silent violence issue in rural communities.
A variety of factors may contribute to the risk of suicide to rural adolescents. These factors include, but are not limited to, social isolation, access to firearms, and lack of mental health services. Adolescent suicide is a mandatory performance measure for state MCH offices. The following pages offer assistance in defining and responding to the growing issue of rural youth violence. Us NFMC Copyright 2000 by Marshfield Clinic.