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Elsevier
論文を投稿する
Press release

New Research Shows One in Four Black Middle School Students Contemplate Suicide

2025年1月27日

A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), published by Elsevier, reports that approximately 28% of a national sample of Black middle school adolescents reported suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts. While previous research studies have investigated suicide among young adolescents, few studies have examined suicide risk specifically among Black middle school adolescents.

In conjunction with a post-pandemic national child mental health crisis, rates of suicide are increasing among early adolescent Black youth populations. This study investigated data from the 2019 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey with a sample of 7,643 self-identifying Black youth to understand suicide prevalence rates and risk factors. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and associations between seven variables, including sex, weapon carrying, weight perceptions, grades, grade level, school bullying, cyberbullying, suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts, were examined.

Findings revealed prevalence rates of about one in four Black middle school students for suicidal thoughts, one in six for suicidal planning, and one in ten for attempting suicide. Students who identified as female, victims of cyberbullying, carrying a weapon, or being very overweight experienced significantly higher odds of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts.

Co-authors Sonyia Richardson, assistant professor of social work and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Laura Gunn, professor of epidemiology and community health and affiliate faculty in the School of Data Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, emphasized the urgency and need for cultural approaches to identifying and screening for suicide risk and protective factors among Black middle school adolescents to support prevention efforts.

Richardson highlighted that suicidal behavior in youth is an emergency: “It is important to proactively ask adolescents about suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts. Some adolescents may exhibit risk factors or conditions that increase their likelihood of suicidal behaviors, as highlighted in our study. For youth displaying any suicidal behaviors, further assessment is essential. It is unacceptable to wait until adolescents have developed a suicide plan or attempted to die by suicide to link them to resources. Instead, every family should be informed about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free resource available to help those in distress.”

Given the high rates of suicidality among adolescents, experts believe a targeted approach is crucial to identify and address the root causes and predictors of suicide risk. Study researchers say policies should focus on the specific risk factors relevant to Black middle school adolescents, such as bullying (both in school and online), weapon carrying, and sex, while assessing feelings of safety. They also suggest that medical providers screen youth for acute suicide risk, including assessing ideation, planning, and previous attempts.

Notes for Editors

The article is "Factors Associated With Suicide Risk Behavior Outcomes Among Black Middle School Adolescents," by Sonyia C. Richardson, PhD, Laura H. Gunn, PhD(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2024.03.019). It appears in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), volume 63, issue 12(December 2024), published by Elsevier.

Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please contact Sonyia Richardsonat [email protected] +1-919-986-2910.

About JAACAP

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) is the official publication of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. JAACAP is the leading journal focusing exclusively on today's psychiatric research and treatment of the child and adolescent. Published twelve times per year, each issue is committed to its mission of advancing the science of pediatric mental health and promoting the care of youth and their families.

The Journal's purpose is to advance research, clinical practice, and theory in child and adolescent psychiatry. It is interested in manuscripts from diverse viewpoints, including genetic, epidemiological, neurobiological, cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, social, cultural, and economic. Studies of diagnostic reliability and validity, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatment efficacy, and mental health services effectiveness are encouraged. The Journal also seeks to promote the well-being of children and families by publishing scholarly papers on such subjects as health policy, legislation, advocacy, culture and society, and service provision as they pertain to the mental health of children and families.

エルゼビアについて

エルゼビアは、先端情報と意思決定を支援しています。1世紀以上にわたり、人類の進歩のため先端科学とヘルスケアの進歩に貢献してきました。私たちは、170か国にわたるアカデミアや企業の研究コミュニティ、医師、看護師、未来の医療従事者、教育者の皆さまの重要な活動をサポートしています。これは、信頼できるエビデンスに基づく科学・医療コンテンツと高度なAI技術を組み合わせた革新的なソリューションにより知見の集積や重要な意思決定を支援することで実現しています。また、私たちは、これらの価値を製品や企業文化に組み込み、コミュニティとの協働を通じて、インクルージョンと持続可能性を推進しています。エルゼビア財団は、世界中の研究と医療のパートナーシップを支援しています。

エルゼビアは、専門家およびビジネス向けの情報分析および意思決定ツールのグローバルプロバイダーであるRELX Groupの一事業を担っています。詳細につきましては、www.elsevier.comソーシャルメディア@Elsevier Connectをご覧ください。

連絡先

BW

Barbara Wiedemann

919 986 2910

E-mail Barbara Wiedemann

CL

Cat Long

919 445 8555

E-mail Cat Long