This is likely to require developing and nurturing active working partnerships among researchers, healthcare professionals, healthcare and public policy changemakers, insurers, and leaders in pertinent youth-serving settings and institutions. Other subgroups of minoritized youth, such youth who identify as sexual and gender minorities (SGM; ) face unique stressors and are also at elevated risk, warranting further focused research . Many social media platforms already have community guidelines 52, 53, 54, which prohibit content promoting suicide, self-injury or eating disorders and users are directed to contact a helpline or reach out to a friend if they search for “suicide” related terms on some platforms. There was moderate agreement about the industry using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify users at risk and promote helpful resources and strong support for legal requirements to provide education about communicating safely online in schools . The #chatsafe guidelines and social media campaign are currently being tested in an RCT assessing impact on young people’s safety and confidence when talking about suicide online.
Reducing access to lethal means is a powerful way to reduce suicide. Too many young people reach out for professional help and run into barriers. Self-awareness and interpersonal skills help young people better solve problems, manage emotional stressors, and control impulses, improving their ability to move through challenges. Increase coping and emotional support skills
3. Studies Conducted in Clinical Settings
- Many studies (Silverstone et al. 2015, 2017; Bailey et al. 2017; Kinchin et al. 2019; Nasution et al. 2019; Wise 2023) did not mention programme development (Table 2).
- Adolescents who face high levels of family conflict, parental neglect, or inconsistent caregiving are more likely to develop mental health issues and engage in suicidal behaviors (Mortier et al., 2018).
- It focuses on upstream suicide prevention research methods and details how cost-effective approaches can mitigate youth suicide risk when implemented at a universal level.
- Understandably, many communities are reluctant to participate in randomized trials in which they might get no intervention.
- Youth and young adults should grow, thrive, and live long, healthy lives.
Protective factors play a crucial role in mitigating the risk of suicide among adolescents by enhancing resilience, promoting adaptive coping mechanisms, and fostering supportive environments. Socioeconomic status is a well-documented systemic factor SPRC Recover Together resources that influences adolescent mental health and suicide risk. Parental mental health affects adolescent suicide risk. The authors independently collected data, focusing on study characteristics and key findings related to suicide risk factors and prevention strategies.
Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, USA
The incidence has been steadily rising in the USA, and 5.1% of male and 9.3% of female high school students in the USA report a suicide attempt in the past year . This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article. In addition, methodological replication using the same prevention programme is required to confirm the promising effects of any of the programmes. However, none of the programmes measured effectiveness in reducing suicidal behaviours and improving help‐seeking, knowledge, attitude and coping in one single study. Most of the intervention programmes were developed and used in the same nation. Another limitation may be that excluding studies published in languages other than English might result in missing valuable information.
Last year, the coalition formed three subcommittees that played a key role in implementing the state’s suicide prevention plan; advocated for suicide prevention, mental health crisis funding, and legislative bills; shared data, resources, and trainings; and led a suicide prevention awareness campaign. These trainings support county-based suicide prevention coalitions in accessing real-time death record data specific to their county and/or region. For example, suicide prevention efforts are now able to focus interventions on identified geographical hotspots and populations at increased risk for suicide.
Despite these statistics, few pediatric health care settings screen for suicide risk and fewer utilize evidence-based methods.29 Death registry studies reveal that the majority of young suicide decedents (80%) have visited a health care setting months, sometimes weeks, before death,25,26 and that only 20% had contact with a mental health professional.27 Importantly, over 1.5 million young people will have an emergency department (ED) visit as their sole contact with the health care system,28 which may be the only opportunity to recognize their distress and intervene. Many studies have identified medical illness as a risk factor for suicide in adults17,18,19 and youth.20,21,22,23,24 Youth with chronic medical conditions have increased contact with their pediatricians, allowing opportunities for detection of suicide risk. Schools that implement social–emotional learning (SEL) programs, anti-bullying policies, and mental health services are better positioned to support adolescent well-being and prevent suicide (Bas, 2021; Heppen et al., 2018). Externalizing disorders, such as conduct disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also display significant associations with increased suicide risk, particularly among male adolescents (Mirkovic et al., 2020).