People who live at high altitudes may face problems with mental illness, researchers have warned.
A new study links mountain living to an increased risk of suicide.
And the problem is not confined to lone mountaineers, according to US researchers.
Wealthy people who live in high cities may also face problems, researchers said.
Expert Professor John West says the cause is "obscure" although it may be linked to thin oxygen.
The findings come from a study of the entire US population over a 20-year period. Researchers compared suicide rates by county with the height of each of the country’s 2,584 counties.
The researchers say they have allowed for the effects of geographical isolation and poverty in their research published in the journal High Altitude Medicine and Biology.
But the findings may not apply to all countries. The USA contains cities such as Denver, Colorado, which is a mile above sea-level and higher than the highest point in the UK, Ben Nevis mountain.
Dr West, the journal editor, said: "This article describes a new, unexpected finding of a link between suicide rate and altitude of residence. The cause is obscure as yet."
Positive Association between Altitude and Suicide in 2584 U.S. Counties Barry Brenner, David Cheng, Sunday Clark, and Carlos A. Camargo, Jr. High Altitude Medicine & Biology Volume 12, Number 1, 2011
Leave a Reply