According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adolescent suicides have tragically been rising for over a decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this issue, making the trends of increasing suicide rates among young people more visible. In an effort to combat this alarming trend, researchers from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University have released a new Social Policy Report (SPR) that reviews strategies for preventing adolescent suicide.
Dr. Pamela Morris-Perez, along with her colleagues Rachel Abenavoli, Adam Benzekri, Sarah Rosenbach-Jordan, and Gianna Rose Boccieri, led the research to identify effective suicide prevention strategies designed to address the rising rates of adolescent suicide. In an interview with the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Dr. Morris-Perez highlighted the importance of implementing a layered approach to suicide prevention, drawing inspiration from the Swiss cheese model.
The Swiss cheese model recognizes that no single strategy alone can effectively reduce adolescent suicides. Instead, a combination of strategies, coupled with mental health treatment, is needed to make a significant impact. By focusing on the places where adolescents already are, such as pediatrician’s offices and schools, the goal is to equip adults and peers in these settings with the knowledge and skills to identify signs of suicidal thinking in young people.
Additionally, it is crucial for homes and neighborhoods to create a safe environment for adolescents, fostering acceptance and hope for the future. Dr. Morris-Perez emphasized the distinction between groups at the highest risk for suicide fatalities and those at the highest risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts. While girls are more likely to think about suicide, boys are more likely to die by suicide due to their choice of more lethal means.
Certain groups, such as Indigenous adolescents, boys, adolescents in rural communities, multiracial adolescents, girls, and LGBTQ+ adolescents, are at a higher risk of suicide. However, universal prevention strategies, such as restricting access to lethal methods, screening all youth in healthcare settings, and implementing community-wide suicide awareness and prevention programs, can help support all adolescents and target those at highest risk.
One of the most effective ways to reduce suicide rates is by limiting access to methods of self-harm. Firearm regulation and safe storage programs, building barriers and netting on structures commonly used for suicides, and distributing lockboxes for medications are among the approaches that have proven successful in preventing suicides.
Policies that promote LGBTQ+ acceptance have also shown promising results in reducing adolescent suicide rates. States implementing same-sex marriage laws have seen a decrease in suicide rates not only among LGBTQ+ youth but also among all adolescents. Therefore, it is crucial for state-level policymakers and school administrators to create inclusive environments and implement strategies that affirm LGBTQ+ identities.
While schools typically focus on training teachers to recognize signs of suicide in students and refer them to care, research indicates that the most effective programs are youth-focused. By leveraging friend networks and changing norms around discussing suicide and seeking help, these programs empower adolescents to recognize signs of suicidal thoughts in their peers and take appropriate actions. State and federal Departments of Education are encouraged to support the implementation and funding of these programs.
However, there are challenges in accurately capturing data on suicide fatalities and suicidal ideation. Standardization and training in suicide-related mortality data collection, including gender identity and sexual orientation, are necessary to improve our understanding of suicide trends. Moreover, the availability of multi-level data, similar to what exists in the field of education, would provide insights into the factors contributing to suicide rates among adolescents and facilitate the development of targeted interventions.
In conclusion, addressing the rising rates of adolescent suicide requires a multi-faceted approach that combines mental health treatment, community-wide prevention programs, and support in the places where adolescents spend their time. By implementing strategies that restrict access to lethal methods, promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance and inclusion, and empowering youth to recognize and respond to signs of suicidal thoughts, we can work towards reducing the devastating impact of adolescent suicide.
