“Theories abound as to why these towns are affected, though they remain speculation. Like Durango, these are places where the cost of living is high, good jobs are scarce, and people are financially stressed. There are fewer mental health resources than one would find in a big city. (It’s common for parents to find that every child therapist in town is booked and not taking new clients.) Others blame the play-hard, party-hard vibe in idyllic mountain towns that can lead to substance abuse (a risk factor for suicide), as well as social media, the culture of relentless athletic one-upmanship, and the obsessive pursuit of fun. ‘It can be sort of this FOMO rat race,’ says Cara Kropp, a special education teacher, mountain bike coach, and friend of Tricia’s. ‘People don’t want to be around nonstoked people.'” But these are, as described, just theories. Nobody is quite certain how to explain The Suicide Clusters That Threaten Mountain Towns.

+ The Guardian: Nearly 40% of female suicides occur in India.