Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth from 10 to 24 years, and the fifth leading cause of death in children from 5 to 12 years of age. Although many who attempt or die from suicide are not receiving mental health treatment at the time of the attempt, most have seen a primary care provider during the year before the attempt.
Deaths by suicide are rising fastest among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Asian and multiracial youth. Self-reported suicide attempts are more than three times higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth (LGBTQ+), and youth with disabilities also report higher rates of suicidal ideation. The commonalities among these intersecting groups are marginalization, lack of social connectedness and discrimination. Pediatric-focused NPs can address discrimination when working with marginalized youth and families, advocate for policies in local schools and communities that encourage equity and inclusion for all youth and connect youth to mental health and community groups that provide targeted support.
The Trevor Project, whose mission is to end suicide in LGBTQ young people, provides a 24/7 crisis support hotline for LGBTQ youth. The BIPOC Mental Health Coalition provides links to targeted mental health resources for black, indigenous and youth of color. The Office of Population Affairs offers resources to adolescents and young adults with disabilities and their families.
NAPNAP Partners for Vulnerable Youth, through its Alliance to Prevent Youth Suicide (APYS) initiative, is committed to providing all pediatric-focused APRNs with the latest information and skill development on suicide screening, assessing children and youth who screen positive, developing safety plans, increasing protective factors and decreasing risk for suicidal youth. Our mission is to prevent youth suicide through evidence-based behavioral screening, support, and interventions, amplifying the diverse voices of youth, promoting resilience, and advocating for decreased stigma and improved access to mental health services. Our APYS champions have presented at 14 national and regional conferences to date, including NAPNAP, reaching more than 700 health care providers and will be presenting at NAPNAP’s national conference in 2024.