NCJ Number
120457
Date Published
1989
Length
110 pages
Annotation
The suicide rate for persons aged 15 to 24 has almost tripled in the past 30 years in the United States; knowledge about the causes, demographics, and prevention of youth suicide is far behind that of many other societal health problems.
Abstract
Certain factors such as family disruption, emotional stress, homosexuality, chemical imbalance, and drug dependency are known to contribute to youth suicide, but the connection between mental illness and suicide is less well understood. Many young suicides had not been diagnosed as mentally ill, but had shown maladjusted or inhibited social tendencies. Three times as many females as males attempt suicide, but five times as many males as females actually succeed. Whites attempt and succeed at a higher rate than blacks. Guns are the most common instrument of suicide. Other methods include, in order of preference: hanging, drug overdose, and jumping from a high place. In addition to families' and professionals' efforts to prevent suicide, Federal agencies, private organizations, and employers should implement programs to reach disadvantaged youth and those who display suicidal tendencies. Religious counselors should be trained to detect suicidal tendencies at the spiritual source, the media and entertainment can contribute to mass informational campaigns, and the legal system can restrict access to instruments of suicide. Tables, appendix, inventory of Department of Health and Human Services programs relating to youth suicide.