TY - JOUR
T1 - Black Youth Suicide
T2 - Investigation of Current Trends and Precipitating Circumstances
AU - Sheftall, Arielle H.
AU - Vakil, Fatima
AU - Ruch, Donna A.
AU - Boyd, Rhonda C.
AU - Lindsey, Michael A.
AU - Bridge, Jeffrey A.
N1 - Funding Information:
Dr. Sheftall received grant support for the conduct of this research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; R21MH116206 ) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP; YIG-1-152-19 ). NIMH and AFSP were not involved in the study design, collection/analysis/interpretation of the data, or manuscript preparation. Dr. Lindsey receives grant funding from NIMH ( R34MH119390 ) which supported his effort during the writing of this manuscript.
Funding Information:
Dr. Sheftall received grant support for the conduct of this research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; R21MH116206) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP; YIG-1-152-19). NIMH and AFSP were not involved in the study design, collection/analysis/interpretation of the data, or manuscript preparation. Dr. Lindsey receives grant funding from NIMH (R34MH119390) which supported his effort during the writing of this manuscript.Disclosure: Dr. Bridge has received research grant support from NIMH, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Clarigent Health. Drs. Sheftall, Ruch, Boyd, Lindsey and Ms. Vakil have reported no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - Objective: Suicide among Black youth is a significant public health concern, yet research investigating the epidemiology of suicide in this population is limited. This study examines current trends and precipitating circumstances of suicide by sex and age group in Black youth 5 to 17 years of age, using 2 national databases. Method: Data from the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) and the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) were used to investigate trends and precipitating circumstances of Black youth suicide from 2003 to 2017. We hypothesized suicide rates would increase over time for both sexes and all age groups (5-11, 12-14, and 15-17 years), and precipitating circumstances would differ by sex and age group. Trend analyses were conducted using Joinpoint regression software, version 4.8.0.01 (Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute). Sex and age group comparisons of characteristics and precipitating circumstances were conducted using standard univariate statistical tests. Results: From 2003 to 2017, Black youth experienced a significant upward trend in suicide with the largest annual percentage change in the 15- to 17-year age group and among girls (4.9% and 6.6%, respectively). Mental health problems, relationship problems, interpersonal trauma and life stressors, and prior suicidal thoughts/behavior were the most common clinical characteristics and precipitating circumstances, with several varying by sex and age group. Conclusion: Increases in Black youth suicide calls for the prioritization of research aimed at identifying specific risk and protective factors as well as developmental mechanisms associated with Black youth suicidal behavior. To implement effective suicide prevention programming, understanding targets for intervention is necessary.
AB - Objective: Suicide among Black youth is a significant public health concern, yet research investigating the epidemiology of suicide in this population is limited. This study examines current trends and precipitating circumstances of suicide by sex and age group in Black youth 5 to 17 years of age, using 2 national databases. Method: Data from the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) and the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) were used to investigate trends and precipitating circumstances of Black youth suicide from 2003 to 2017. We hypothesized suicide rates would increase over time for both sexes and all age groups (5-11, 12-14, and 15-17 years), and precipitating circumstances would differ by sex and age group. Trend analyses were conducted using Joinpoint regression software, version 4.8.0.01 (Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute). Sex and age group comparisons of characteristics and precipitating circumstances were conducted using standard univariate statistical tests. Results: From 2003 to 2017, Black youth experienced a significant upward trend in suicide with the largest annual percentage change in the 15- to 17-year age group and among girls (4.9% and 6.6%, respectively). Mental health problems, relationship problems, interpersonal trauma and life stressors, and prior suicidal thoughts/behavior were the most common clinical characteristics and precipitating circumstances, with several varying by sex and age group. Conclusion: Increases in Black youth suicide calls for the prioritization of research aimed at identifying specific risk and protective factors as well as developmental mechanisms associated with Black youth suicidal behavior. To implement effective suicide prevention programming, understanding targets for intervention is necessary.
KW - Black youth suicide
KW - NVDRS
KW - age- and sex-specific trends
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85116851694&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.08.021
DO - 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.08.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 34509592
AN - SCOPUS:85116851694
VL - 61
SP - 662
EP - 675
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
SN - 0890-8567
IS - 5
ER -