A new study reveals a troubling trend in adolescent suicide rates across the United States, with minority youth facing particularly stark increases. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed federal death certificate data from 1999 to 2020, uncovering a steady rise in suicide rates among 10- to 19-year-olds across all demographics.
The study, led by Cameron Ormiston of the U.S. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, found that over 47,000 adolescents lost their lives to suicide during this period. While the overall trend is concerning, the data show that Black, Hispanic, and Native American youth are especially vulnerable.
Between 2012 and 2020, suicide deaths by firearms among Black adolescents increased by 14.5% annually, with similar trends observed among Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian American adolescents. The researchers noted, “The recent, rapidly accelerating rates of firearm suicide among Black, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents are concerning.”
The study also highlighted a narrowing gap between male and female suicide rates, with girls experiencing steeper increases in recent years. Suicide by drug overdose among female adolescents jumped 12.6% annually between 2011 and 2020.
Experts suggest that systemic racism, cultural disenfranchisement, and inadequate access to mental health services contribute to these disparities. The researchers emphasized the need for better outreach, including school-based suicide prevention programs and improved access to mental health counseling, particularly for at-risk minority teens.
See “Steady Rise in U.S. Suicides Among Adolescents, Teens” (March 29, 2024)