Anti-Smoking Policies May Also Fight Suicide

Smoking is not only bad for physical health, it may also be bad for mental health, a new study suggests. Smoking cigarettes could increase the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, and may even be linked with suicide, the research shows. In the study, researchers looked at the correlation between tobacco policies — such as taxes and public smoking bans — and rates of suicide in all 50 U.S. states between 1990 and 2004. "Our analysis showed that each dollar increase in cigarette taxes was associated with a 10-percent decrease in suicide risk," said study researcher Richard Grucza, an epidemiologist and associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis. Read More http://ift.tt/1nLbKDk