African American Child Suicides: A Vulnerable Population

Suicide among African-American children is a growing concern within the United States with rapid increases in the rates of suicide for African American children reported over the past 20 years (CDC, 2016). Although risk factors for suicide among African American adolescents are known, the risk factor for suicide specific to the African American preadolescents remains largely unknown. There is a paucity of literature that takes into consideration the specific risk and protective factors for this ethnic group. This study examined the demographic characteristics and clinical presentations among African American children under the age of 12 who had been admitted into a psychiatric hospital for suicidal ideation, a suicide plan, and/or a suicide attempt. The results from our analysis demonstrated that almost half of the children had a history of out of home placement, more than half of the children had a family member with mental illness, a third of the children had a family member who engaged in substance abuse, and nearly half of the children had experienced abuse or neglect. Other results included a slightly higher prevalence of males than females, and mood disorders were the primary diagnosis given. In addition, more than half of the children identified with a religious or spiritual belief. These results represent areas of vulnerability for the African American preadolescent population, and increase knowledge about risk and protective factors for this population These findings also suggest potential targets for prevention and intervention in an effort to increase positive outcomes for this at-risk population.