Equitable suicide prevention for youth impacted by the juvenile legal system

Temporal trends in suicide ideation and attempt among youth in juvenile detention, 2016-2021

INTRODUCTION

Data from the general population of youth show increases in suicide ideation and attempt in recent years, with rates of increase differing across sex and racial/ethnic groups. This study assessed trends in suicide ideation and attempt from 2016 to 2021 in youth in juvenile detention, across sex, age, and racial/ethnic groups.

METHODS

We leveraged state-wide suicide screening data of all detained youth (n = 53,769) from 2016 to 2021. We analyzed data for periods defined by statistically significant changes in trends of lifetime suicide attempt, past 6-month suicide attempt, and current suicide ideation.

RESULTS

The prevalence of lifetime, but not past six-month, attempts increased, whereas the prevalence of current suicide ideation decreased annually from 2016 to 2021. Overall trends were qualified by distinct patterns among subgroups: rates of lifetime attempt increased among male, adolescent, and Black youth, while rates of current ideation decreased among male, adolescent, and White and Hispanic youth.

CONCLUSION

These data document increasing rates of lifetime suicide attempts in detained youth from 2016 to 2021, especially among male and Black adolescents, concomitant with decreasing rates of current suicide ideation. Suicide prevention approaches for detained youth may need to prioritize variables besides or in addition to suicide ideation.

Perceived Stressful Life Events and Suicide Risk in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Perceived Family Functioning

AIM

Suicidal behavior is a serious public health problem and a major cause of death among adolescents. Three categories of major risk factors have been identified: psychological factors, stressful life events, and personality traits. Severe and objective stressful life events (SLEs), such as childhood mistreatment or abuse, have been clearly associated with higher rates of suicide risk. However, the relationship between suicide risk and adolescents' perceptions of the SLE impact is not as clear. This paper studies the relationship between SLE impact perception and suicide risk and the possible mediating role of perceived family functioning in this relationship. The need for longer-term or more intense psychological or psychiatric treatment in relation to SLE impact perception is also addressed.

METHOD

One hundred forty-seven adolescents aged 11-17 were consecutively recruited from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Outpatient Services Department of a general hospital in Madrid, Spain. Self-informed questionnaires were used to assess suicide risk, SLEs, and family functioning. In addition, the clinical records of the participants were consulted to collect information about their treatment histories, including the number of appointments and the duration of follow-up.

RESULTS

SLE impact perception correlates significantly with suicide risk, the number of clinical appointments, the duration of treatment, and the perceived level of family functioning. The mediation model of the family functioning perception variable in the relationship between SLE impact perception and suicide risk is significant. The linear regression model of SLE impact perception and family functioning perception on suicide risk is also significant, accounting for 25.7% of the variance.

CONCLUSIONS

Beyond the clear and proven effect of serious and objective SLEs, the perceived impact of SLEs reported by adolescents is related to an increased risk of suicide and more intense psychological and/or psychiatric follow-up. This relationship is mediated by the perceived level of family functioning. Adolescents' perceptions of their life experiences and perceived family support may be key determinants of suicide risk prevention.

Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Self-Cutting Behavior Among Adolescents at First Contact with the Juvenile Court

Adolescents involved in juvenile legal system are at increased risk for self-cutting behavior, however, correlates associated with elevated risk remain underresearched, particularly among youth with first involvement with the court. This study utilized an epidemiological two-year longitudinal study involving 401 adolescents at first contact with the court (Mage = 14.47; SDage = 1.94 years; 43% female; 42% Latinx/Hispanic) and an involved caregiver. Study aims examined key prospective psychosocial correlates of self-cutting behavior. Baseline assessments captured individual and family level risk and protective factors; self-cutting behavior was assessed longitudinally every four months post-baseline for 24 months. Psychosocial correlates of self-cutting behavior included adolescent affect dysregulation, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, impulsive decision making, anxiety and depression symptoms. Significant protective factors included positive communication with caregiver and family, higher self-esteem, and having a caring and supportive family. These findings suggest that internalizing symptoms as well as difficulties with emotion regulation and impulsive decision making are correlated with heightened risk for self-cutting behavior among adolescents involved in the juvenile legal system. The findings also suggest that individual and family level protective factors, like positive communication and a supportive family, are associated with decreased risk for self-cutting behavior among adolescents at first contact with the court.