Various populations are at risk for both increased tobacco use as well as mental health issues. Data shows that American Indians and Alaska Natives are such a group. A study of 1999 to 2009 death certificate data linked with Indian Health Service patient registration data compared death rates from suicide in American Indian/Alaskan Native populations to rates among White persons. The study found that death rates from suicide were approximately 50% higher among AI/AN persons (21.2 per 100,000) than among Whites (14.2 per 100,000). Such disparities indicate the need for coordinated effort of health officials to address this public health issue.
