A new study reveals Oklahoma’s rising suicide rate is impacting rural, white men the most, thanks largely to the state’s loose gun laws.
The state’s suicide crisis has already been higher than the national average for nearly two decades, but it’s been increasing even more dramatically in recent years. While no community is immune, the impact is being felt most severely in rural communities and among white and Native men and boys, according to a report from Healthy Minds Policy Initiative.
Using 10 years worth of data from the Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System between 2013 and 2022, researchers found that of those who died by suicide, only 26% were receiving treatment, but nearly half had a known mental health problem. Over 800 Oklahomans die annually from suicide.
“We are among the leaders of the nation in terms of the number and rate of suicides, and outpacing the growth of other states in that category,” Zack Stoycoff, founding director of Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, told the Black Wall Street Times.
The report found a correlation between the highest rates of suicide and broadband access. Communities in Southeast Oklahoma, which have the lowest rates of broadband access, also had some of the highest rates of suicide.
Oklahoma’s lawless gun culture contributing to suicide rate
A majority of Oklahomans who died by suicide had a mental health or substance use struggle, and a third had a problem with an intimate partner that contributed to their death, the report states.
Notably, the vast majority of suicide attempts involve guns, and one of the report’s main recommendations include reducing access to guns to people who present a danger to themselves or others.
According to Everytown Research and Policy, at least 21 states have passed “red flag” laws. The legislation allows authorities to temporarily take away a person’s access to guns if a judge, on advice of mental health practitioners and law enforcement, deems them a risk to safety.
Oklahoma became the first state to pass an anti-red flag law in 2020, which bans cities from and counties from taking away a person’s gun even temporarily. As of July 2025, only six states ban such practices: Oklahoma, West Virginia, Tennessee, Wyoming, Texas and Montana. The Black Wall Street Times reached out to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt for a response. His office didn’t respond.
“When we see a major school shooting in America, for example, we often say, ‘how is that person allowed to do that,’ and we often start talking about mental health,” Stoycoff said. “Well, all we are saying is we should prevent such instances of violence when there is a verifiable mental health reason to do so under a court or a due process law.”
Seeking proactive care crucial, Black therapist says
In addition to adults, suicidality and suicide attempts are also heavily impacting Oklahoma youth. Roughly 1 in 7 adolescents have thought about suicide, and four percent have made attempts, the report found.
Broken down by gender, women and girls experienced more emergency room visits for suicide attempts and ideation, but men and boys experienced more inpatient admissions for suicidality.
While Black Oklahomans have lower rates of suicide compared to white and Native Oklahomans, suicide rates in Black communities are on the rise as well.
Dwayne Mason is a mental health counselor in Tulsa and co-founder of Tulsa Black Mental Health Alliance, an organization that advocates for greater access to mental health resources. When asked about the report, he said he was deeply concerned but not surprised.
“I see clients struggling with suicidal ideation quite frequently in my practice. Currently, the majority of my clientele are Black males, and most of the suicidal ideation I encounter comes from younger clients, typically between the ages of 13 and 25,” Mason told the Black Wall Street Times.
The report determined the higher rate of mostly gun suicides impacting men could stem from a stigma of not wanting to seek help. Most programs and support in society are reserved for women and children, with men often feeling or being seen as undeserving.
Mason said the stigma, delaying care until a crisis occurs, and a lack of Black mental health professionals are all factors that “create a perfect storm” preventing many Black people from receiving timely, effective care.
“For many people, especially in communities where mental health is still a taboo subject, it takes time to become comfortable with the idea of opening up and being vulnerable. Early engagement gives space to gradually adjust and feel safe,” Mason said.
Seeking support early gives people time to find the right therapist and allows them to develop coping skills to prevent a crisis from every occurring, Mason added.
“Ultimately, mental health care should be proactive, not reactive. Seeking support early helps build emotional resilience, promotes long-term well-being, and makes it much easier to handle life’s challenges when they do arise,” he said.
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