Sharp increases in suicide rates among U.S. adolescents, particularly affecting girls and minority youth, have been reported in a new study published in JAMA Network Open. The analysis, led by Cameron Ormiston of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, examined federal death certificate data from 1999 to 2020.
The study found that over 47,000 Americans aged 10 to 19 died by suicide during this period, with rates rising steadily across all demographics. However, minority adolescents experienced the most dramatic increases. From 2012 to 2020, firearm suicide rates jumped 14.5% annually among Black adolescents, with similar trends observed in Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian American youth.
Girls also saw steeper increases in certain methods of suicide. Drug overdose suicides rose 4.5% annually among girls overall, and 12.6% annually between 2011 and 2020. Firearm suicides increased 7.8% annually among girls, compared to 5.3% for boys.
Researchers attribute these trends to various factors, including social media pressures, economic downturns, academic stress, and political polarization. Dr. Robert Dicker, a child psychology expert at Northwell Health, cited “systemic racism and cultural disenfranchisement” as contributing to higher rates among minority youth.
The study authors recommend improved gun safety practices, school-based suicide prevention programs, and better access to mental health services, especially for at-risk minority teens. They noted that Black youth are often mislabeled as having behavioral problems rather than mental health issues, leading to inadequate care.
See “Suicides among U.S. adolescents, teens rise steadily” (March 29, 2024)
