Posted on February 14, 2010

Suicide is an alarming threat for teens who may be dealing with mental issues, such as depression or bipolar disorder. New research suggests that teens in specific demographic groups may be more at risk than others.

Research funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, suggests that Black American teens, especially females, could be at a higher risk for attempting suicide, even if they have never been diagnosed with a mental disorder.

The findings of this research were based on responses from adolescent participants in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). This survey captured national estimates on suicidal thoughts and behaviors as well as suicide attempts in 13- to 17-year old Black youth in the United States.

As suicide is the third leading cause of death in all teens in the United States, it is important to examine the factors that lead to suicide in an effort to create and execute effective prevention programs. Throughout historical research into the topic, Black teens and young adults have had lower suicide rates than White teens. In recent decades, however, youth suicide rates in Blacks has increased significantly.

Sean Joe, Ph.D., LMSW, University of Michigan, and colleagues evaluated NSAL-A teens’ responses to questions about suicidal thoughts and intentions, as well as nonfatal suicide attempts. Researchers estimate such attempts may take place as much as 10-40 times more often than completed suicides.

Study findings reveal that in a given year, Black teen girls are most likely to attempt suicide. Next in line are Caribbean teen girls, Black teen boys and then Caribbean teen boys. Caribbean females however, reported the highest rates in suicidal thoughts. Caribbean males reported the lowest rates in thoughts and attempts.

Researchers also found that youth from lower income households – or those in the $18,000-$31,999 annually – were the least likely to report attempting suicide. The most likely attempts were among those teens living in homes with modest means – or incomes of $32,000-$54,999.

Links between suicide attempts and mental disorders were identified in study participants. Teens with anxiety disorders appeared to have the highest risk. At the same time, roughly half of those teens who had attempted suicide had never been diagnosed with a mental disorder.

Based on the information gathered in this study, researchers estimate that at some point before reaching the age of 17 years of age, 4 percent of Black teens and more than seven percent of Black teen females will attempt suicide.