# Disparities in Deaths of Despair and Violence and Tropical Cyclones in the United States

> **NIH NIH R00** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $67,927

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The United States is grappling with the urgent challenge of worsening mental and behavioral health
outcomes, with over 4 million deaths from suicide, assault, and psychoactive drug use in the past four
decades. These deaths, referred to as deaths of despair and violence, account for 5% of all US deaths and
are increasing faster than population growth. Significant disparities exist across sociodemographic groups,
with young adults, lower-income communities, and non-white populations experiencing worse outcomes,
including higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide. Climate-related stressors, such as tropical
cyclones, further exacerbate mental health issues, potentially leading to increased rates of anxiety disorders,
intimate partner violence, and drug use behaviors. Tropical cyclone exposure is plausibly linked to deaths of
despair and violence through biological, mental, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts. Major
hurricanes often result in trauma, conflict, property loss, injury, and displacement, which can lead to suicidal
or violent behavior and substance misuse. As climate change intensifies, increasing the frequency and
severity of tropical cyclones, disparities in mental health outcomes are expected to worsen. There are critical
knowledge gaps in understanding the trends and disparities in deaths of despair and violence, the short-term
impacts of tropical cyclone exposure, and the long-term effects on vulnerable populations. In this supplement,
we will leverage data and methodology prepared for the parent R00 grant. To address these gaps, we will
analyze comprehensive mortality data and tropical cyclone exposure records. Our team, experienced in
environmental epidemiology and advanced statistical methods, will investigate the links between tropical
cyclone exposure and psychological distress-related deaths. Aim 1 will characterize long-term trends and
disparities in deaths of despair and violence by modelling trends in suicide, assault, and psychoactive drug-
related deaths from 1982 to 2022 and analyzing disparities by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and county. Aim 2 will
determine the short-term association of tropical cyclone exposure with deaths of despair and violence by
estimating death rate ratios by county-month following cyclone exposure from 1988 to 2022. Aim 3 will
evaluate the long-term impact of recurrent tropical cyclone exposure on these deaths and disparities by
utilizing synthetic control methods to estimate long-term effects and examine impacts by Social Vulnerability
Index scores. This project complements and extends the parent R00, and is consistent with NIH and Surgeon
General priorities, aiming to inform public health strategies, improve disaster response, and enhance mental
health resources for vulnerable communities. This research will provide the candidate with advanced skills,
training and research opportunities to a graduate student training in environmental epidemiology as applied
to...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11100635
- **Project number:** 3R00ES033742-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Robbie M Parks
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $67,927
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11100635

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11100635, Disparities in Deaths of Despair and Violence and Tropical Cyclones in the United States (3R00ES033742-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11100635. Licensed CC0.

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