PsychByte: Increased Rate of Suicide Among Black Youth Under Age 13

From 2001 to 2015, black youth had a 42% lower suicide rate when compared to white youth. However, this difference did not hold true for all age groups. A study reported in 2018 in JAMA Pediatrics ( https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2680952 ) revealed that the incidence of suicide in black youth between the ages of 5 and 12 was twice as high as that found in white youth under age 13. While suicide in any group of youth is of significant concern, the high incidence of suicide in black children under age 13 warrants the attention of mental health providers, families, and schools. This data should cause adults to be more vigilant in their awareness of the emotional needs of young children who are black.

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