In 2005, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth 10-24 years of age in the U.S. —accounting for 4,482 deaths. Youth suicide is an important public health problem in the U.S. and research focusing specifically on gender differences is needed and warranted since recent research shows that rates of suicide attempts have increased specifically among young girls. Analyses of the recently released 2007 YRBS data (n=14,041; girls=7,036; boys=6,992) of high school students in 9-12th grades, show that 6.9% of adolescents attempted suicide (9.3% of girls versus 4.6% of boys) and 14.5% seriously considered a suicide attempt (18.7% of girls versus 10.3% of boys). Girls are 2.89 (95% CI: 2.31-3.61) times more likely than boys to report attempting suicide in the past 12 months. Moreover, girls who reported attempting suicide were significantly more likely to also report other risk factors such as depression (OR= 5.74), weapon carrying (OR= 1.48), experiencing intimate partner violence (OR=1.60), being forced to have sexual intercourse (1.72), huffing glue (OR=2.04), and being a minority (OR 1.65). However, boys who reported attempting suicide were significantly more likely to also report weapon carrying (OR=1.66), being forced to have sexual intercourse (OR=2.60), huffing glue (OR=1.63), participating in sports (OR=1.52), depression (OR=10.96), hard drug use (OR=2.18), and being a minority (OR=1.93). Furthermore, analyses of 1991 – 2007 YRBS data revealed that these gender specific risks have remained fairly constant over time. These findings will help guide prevention and intervention strategies to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviors among both girls and boys.

Indigenous populations in the U.S. have been suffering from a youth suicide epidemic for decades. The epidemic and risk factors associated with it can be connected to the mistreatment of Native Americans throughout history which has caused their communities to suffer from numerous inequalities such as poverty, inadequate housing, loss of land, and destruction of culture. Using the concepts of biopolitics, post-colonialism, and structural violence, I argue that the social and political institutions forced upon Native American communities have led to increased alcohol and drug abuse, poverty, and disempowerment, all important factors that aid in the youth suicide epidemic. I also suggests that preventative programs not only focus on suicide but other risk factors involved such as alcohol and drug abuse.

Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10-24. To address this public health problem, novel and effective risk mitigation interventions are needed. Evidence-based research has found that collaborative safety planning is a promising approach to reducing suicide risk. Traditionally, safety plans have been administered in a paper-based format. Emerging research has attempted to translate suicide prevention safety plans to mobile Health (mHealth) smart technologies (i.e., mobile apps); yet, this work is still in preliminary stages and lacks systematic assessment, especially mHealth apps for youth. Our research aims to highlight the needs of technological solution for suicide safety planning and call attention to the shortcomings of baseline safety planning apps so that mHealth researchers can build a better solution for youth to manage their mental health. To do this, we developed a mobile application for suicide safety planning called “SafeLINC.” We had young adult participants assess and compare this newly developed app with an open-source suicide safety planning app currently available for use (i.e., “Suicide Safety Plan") to identify whether either app would be useful for youth to manage their mental health through safety planning. SafeLINC is an Android and iOS app that incorporates the six dimensions of Stanley and Brown’s framework for suicide safety planning as well as sharing safety planning data with parents and clinicians, and visualizing safety planning data over time. We conducted a user study with ten college students (ages 18-21). We first aimed to understand how they currently managed their mental health and their perceptions. Then we asked them to complete a core set of tasks across both suicide safety planning applications to conduct a comparative analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the two apps. We also asked participants to suggest new features to incorporate into the apps that would better support their mental health and coping strategies. We found that most participants use a variety of emotional outlets to cope with their mental health; sometimes using online tools to support these outlets. When using the apps, participants overall preferred SafeLINC to the baseline app because it allowed them to connect with their support network, provided better guidance in the creation of their safety plans, and enabled them to keep track of changes to their mental health. However, participants identified barriers that could inhibit their use of safety planning applications. For example, the downsides of including parents or guardians in the support network, unclear terminologies, and reminding negative feelings were prominent perceptions while using the SafeLINC app. Participants offered suggestions relating to the weaknesses they observed in both apps. Our study highlights how suicide safety planning apps may be beneficial to manage mental health, but contextual factors may still affect usage. We provide recommendations for overcoming these challenges based on the insights gained from our study.

Suicide has immediate and long-term negative effects on surviving family members and adverse effects in the school and community. Suicide rates for children and adolescents have increased in the United States since 2009. As part of suicide prevention efforts, information about risk factors and warning signs are typically addressed in schools, private organizations, and communities. In addition to academic literature for professional audiences, various therapeutic resources are available to assist those who grieve the suicide of a loved one. In particular, practical and easy-to-implement interventions are needed by those who offer support to suicidal individuals and survivors of suicide. Practical resources are needed to address suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention needs. This study is based on a questionnaire that was given to 250 registered individuals at an annual state suicide prevention training conference. Of those attending, 60 (24%) completed the questionnaire. Participants who did not have experience working with suicidal youth did not participate, so the actual participation rate was influenced by this factor. Questions explored the recommendations of mental health professionals (N=60) who worked with (a) suicidal youth, (b) siblings of youth who completed suicide, and/or (c) youth whose parent completed suicide. More specifically this study investigated specific strategies and resources for working with these three specific groups of survivors. Findings from this study indicated that mental health professionals recommend a variety of suicide prevention resources and strategies such as implementing evidenced-based prevention programs, accessing community resources, offering individual and group counseling for survivors, involving or creating support systems, and listening to the affected youth. Also, recommended therapeutic approaches should include an action plan where students are able to receive appropriate mental health services. Based on this study, mental health professionals may be more effective as they acquaint themselves with available resources such as counselors, school psychologists, and community services to comprehensively care for struggling individuals. Mental health professionals, educators, and staff members should obtain relevant information and utilize effective intervention models in order to better address the prevention, intervention, and postvention needs of surviving individuals.Recommendations are made for future research in identifying the combination of resources that are most helpful. Recommendations are also made regarding specific content and training strategies to more effectively prepare and equip professionals to engage more fully in effective and supportive suicide prevention efforts.

Purpose of Review: Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Black youth ages 10–19 years. Between 1991 and 2017, rates of suicide among Black youth have been increasing faster than rates among any other race/ethnic group. There are many factors that may explain this increase, with gambling being suggested as one such potential risk factor. This review examines the association between gambling and suicide behaviors, and how these associations may vary between Black and White youth and young adults. The current review examines these associations using data from the Missouri Family Study (MOFAM). Recent Findings: Recent findings have revealed distinct patterns of substance use initiation and gambling behaviors between Black youth and White youth. While strong links between gambling and suicide behaviors have also been reported, whether the associations were consistent across race/ethnicity groups was not investigated, nor in these cross-sectional analyses was it possible to determine whether the gambling behaviors preceded or followed suicidality. Thus, there is a need to investigate whether there are differences in the associations of gambling and suicide behaviors at the race/ethnicity level in tandem with data that examine the sequence of the behaviors. The current report focuses on racial/ethnic differences using data that allow for sequencing the occurrence of the behaviors via the age of first gambling experience, and of first suicidal symptom, to better distinguish the nature of the association. Summary: The current findings revealed that gambling initiation predicted suicide ideation among Black youth, while no significant association was found among White youth. This is of major public health concern, given the rising rates of suicide among Black youth, and the increased availability of gambling. The report did not find a link between gambling and suicide attempts. Culturally tailored interventions should be considered among schools, families, and clinicians/providers, to highlight the risk of adolescent gambling, particularly among Black youth.

This paper explores public health campaigns as they relate to tweens and their use of technology. After considering how this demographic utilizes both traditional and new media, further examination was done on general health problems that affect this group. Three major health issues were then chosen for analysis. A relevant campaign for each issue was also evaluated, as were its overall marketing and communication efforts. The health problems and corresponding campaigns chosen include childhood obesity and the “Let’s Move” campaign, electronic aggression and the “Stop Bullying” campaign and youth suicide and the “WeCanHelpUs” campaign. From these analyses, recommendations for ways to improve each campaign were provided, as were general conclusions for reaching this demographic more efficiently and effectively. / text

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