Youth suicide levels higher in cities with little mental health services

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - A new study finds kids are more likely to commit suicide when they live in places with a shortage of mental health professionals.

Researchers looked at more than 5,000 suicides that took place from 2015 to 2016, among kids five to 19 years old.

Counties with a shortage of mental healthcare workers saw on average five suicides per 100,000 young people.

Counties without such a shortage saw 3.6 deaths per 100,000.

The federal government has guidelines for determining health professional shortage areas.

More than two-thirds of the counties across the U.S. don't have enough mental health workers.

These areas also show higher rates of poverty and lower rates of health insurance among residents.