Race and Ethnicity

Data from the CDC web-based injury statistics query and reporting system (WISQARS) database show that while completed suicide in children between the ages of 5 and 9 is rare across all racial groups, differences begin to emerge among youth aged 10 to 14 and 15 to 19 years. Between 1999 and 2005, suicide in 10- to 14 years old was most prevalent among American Indian/Alaska natives, followed by white youth, black youth, and asian / pasific islander youth.

In 15 to 19 years old, racial differences in suicide rates are much more pronounced, among males 15 to 19 years old, american indians have the highest rates (26,64 per 100.000), followed by whites (13,48 per 100.000), blacks (7,80 per 100.000), and asian/ pasific islander (6,75 per 100.000). in females, the racial trends are similar, but less dramatic, for both american indian (9,40 per 100.000) and whites (3,00 per 100.000). suicide among asian / pasific islander females between the ages of 15 and 19 (2,76 per 100.000) is somewhat more common than in black females (1,38 per 100.000). these data are not well understood. Although there is great variability among native american and alaska native tribes, rates appear highest within tribes that have experienced erosion of traditional culture and that have high rates delinquency, alcoholism, and family disorganization. As african american suicide victims tend to be from families of upper socioeconomics status (SES). It has been hypothesized that greater educational and employment achievement has led to identification with the majority. White culture, along with the erosion of some traditional protective values. Although the overall rates of suicide are lower among hispanic youth, suicide is, nevertheless, the third leading cause of death, and appears to be growing, with firearms, suffocation, and poisoning being the most common methods. More specifically, hispanics in grades 9 to 12, particularly females, report more hopelessness, sadness, and suicidal ideation and attempts than non hispanic white and non hispanic black youth. Hypothesized risk factors for this group include mental illness, substance use, acculturative stress, family issues, and low SES.

Sexual orientation

The rate of completed suicide for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth is comparable to heterosexual youth. It should be noted, however, that these youth are thought to be more than twice as likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Their heightened risk for depression and suicide is hypothesized to result from the additional stress of managing the stigma of “coming out” and developing an identity as a gay man or lesbian woman.

Religion

Religion seems to have a protective effect and reduces the risk for suicidality. This may be due to religious proscriptions againts suicide, community involvement, and other beneficial effects of spirituality. However, the precise mechanism is difficult to establish, as religion is often confounded with reductionts in other risks, such as substance abuse and parental divorce, precluding firm conclusions.

Psychopathology

As noted earlier in the text, most suicidal youth have a major psychiatric disorder regardless of the severity of suicidality. Risk for suicide is estimated to increase 35- fold in the face of psychiatric disorder and with each psychiatric comorbidity, the likelihood of a suicide attempt increases by nearly 250%. It has been suggested that most psychiatric disorders are associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts, although the nature of this association changes during the course of development. For example an association between suicide and some disorders (e.g major depression, substance-use disorders, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) becomes more robust as youth move into young adulthood, while the association with other disorders (eg., conduct disorder and panic disorder) is attenuated.

As major depression and other depressive disorders are most commonly associated with suicidality in youth, there has been some suggestion that suicidality may represent a severe variant of depression rather than a separate construct. In general, any form of psychopathology that is associated with high levels of emotional reactivity and low levels of inhibition, and interferes with self regulation, judgment, and perception, confers risk for suicide in youth. In addition to depressive disorder, examples would include behavioral disorder, substance-use disorders, psychosis, and borderline personality disorder