BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death among children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA), and mental health disorders are a major contributing factor. Yet, suicidal behaviors among children and AYA with mental health concerns remain understudied and age-specific risk factors are poorly understood. We examined the risk factors for suicide attempt in children and AYA with mental health disorders across three age groups: pre-adolescent children (aged ≤ 12), adolescents (aged 13-17), and young adults (aged 18-25). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of children and AYA hospitalized for a mental health disorder (n = 18,018) at a private hospital system with 141 facilities across the United States (year 2014). RESULTS: Suicide attempts six months prior to hospitalization were reported in 12.1% (n = 177) pre-adolescent children, 22% (n = 1476) adolescents, and 17.9% (n = 1766) young adults. Evidence of psychological trauma was present in 55.4% of pre-adolescent children, 51.2% of adolescents, and 44.5% of young adults. Predictors for suicide attempt observed across all three age groups included the following: female sex, depressive disorder, and being a victim of bullying. Risk factors for suicide attempt specific to pre-adolescent children included being uninsured and having an unsafe home or school environment. Among AYA, suicide attempt was associated with non-Hispanic white, family history of suicide, emotional traumas, and other traumatic experiences. Alcohol use disorder was also a significant predictor of suicide attempt in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide attempts among children and AYA admitted to a hospital with mental health concerns are highly prevalent. Socioeconomic stressors appeared to be an important contributing factor of suicidal behavior in pre-adolescent children but not in older AYA. Effective suicide prevention strategies targeting children and AYA would need to consider age-specific risk factors.
BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death among children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA), and mental health disorders are a major contributing factor. Yet, suicidal behaviors among children and AYA with mental health concerns remain understudied and age-specific risk factors are poorly understood. We examined the risk factors for suicide attempt in children and AYA with mental health disorders across three age groups: pre-adolescent children (aged ≤ 12), adolescents (aged 13-17), and young adults (aged 18-25). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of children and AYA hospitalized for a mental health disorder (n = 18,018) at a private hospital system with 141 facilities across the United States (year 2014). RESULTS: Suicide attempts six months prior to hospitalization were reported in 12.1% (n = 177) pre-adolescent children, 22% (n = 1476) adolescents, and 17.9% (n = 1766) young adults. Evidence of psychological trauma was present in 55.4% of pre-adolescent children, 51.2% of adolescents, and 44.5% of young adults. Predictors for suicide attempt observed across all three age groups included the following: female sex, depressive disorder, and being a victim of bullying. Risk factors for suicide attempt specific to pre-adolescent children included being uninsured and having an unsafe home or school environment. Among AYA, suicide attempt was associated with non-Hispanic white, family history of suicide, emotional traumas, and other traumatic experiences. Alcohol use disorder was also a significant predictor of suicide attempt in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide attempts among children and AYA admitted to a hospital with mental health concerns are highly prevalent. Socioeconomic stressors appeared to be an important contributing factor of suicidal behavior in pre-adolescent children but not in older AYA. Effective suicide prevention strategies targeting children and AYA would need to consider age-specific risk factors.
Authors: Richard T Liu; Rachel F L Walsh; Ana E Sheehan; Shayna M Cheek; Christina M Sanzari Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2022-07-01 Impact factor: 25.911
Authors: Stirling T Argabright; Elina Visoki; Tyler M Moore; Dallas T Ryan; Grace E DiDomenico; Wanjikũ F M Njoroge; Jerome H Taylor; Sinan Guloksuz; Ruben C Gur; Raquel E Gur; Tami D Benton; Ran Barzilay Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2021-08-20 Impact factor: 13.113
Authors: Jamie Zelazny; Barbara Stanley; Giovanna Porta; J John Mann; Maria Oquendo; Boris Birmaher; Nadine Melhem; David A Brent Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2021-05-05 Impact factor: 6.533