Suicide Prevention National Institute of Mental Health NIMH

In our review, only one programme (Langdon et al. 2016) focused on a multilayer collaborative approach to develop a suicide prevention programme. However, the sustainability of programme effects may be enhanced by training local community members to be suicide prevention advocates. Even though many studies reported the effectiveness of programmes on suicidal behaviour, help‐seeking, knowledge, attitude and coping with thoughts of suicide, no studies included in this review measured all these outcomes together. Previous research demonstrated a gap in considering the dissemination and implementation of school‐based suicide prevention programmes that were SPRC Recover Together resources exported for use in international communities or populations of another sociocultural background (Goldston et al. 2008; Liljedahl et al. 2023). Two of the qualitative studies included in this review reported the use of the word suicide and its description in different circumstances as barriers to help seeking or offering help during suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, self‐efficacy, offering help to others, confidence and willingness to help were reported to be positively impacted by suicide prevention programmes across the studies (Hooven et al. 2012; Kinchin et al. 2019; Hart et al. 2020; Ogawa et al. 2022; Wise 2023).

• This narrative review presents a comprehensive strategy for reducing suicide risk among adolescents by synthesizing current evidence on risk factors, early detection, intervention, and prevention.
• The pathways are meant to be individualized according to each institution’s culture, and if implemented thoughtfully, can make screening more feasible and spare strapped mental health resources.
• Research indicates that CBT-SP significantly decreases both suicide attempts and ideation among high-risk adolescents (Brown et al., 2005).
• The few available RCTs often lack adequate follow-up periods, which limits understanding of the long-term efficacy of interventions.

What are the risk factors for teen suicide?

Future research efforts should focus on evaluating the outcomes of universal screening among the adolescent trauma population, including the prevalence of suicidality, services referred to and received, and long-term outcomes. However, some of the policies with a meaningful demonstration of reducing adolescent suicide are state policies that promote safe firearm ownership and reduce access to those at risk of suicide. The complexity of risks and contributors for adolescent suicide make it difficult to identify specific policies or areas of advocacy that definitively reduce the risk of suicide. A promising model of assessing and providing treatment PTSD for patients after traumatic injury is the step-up model of care that provides universal screening for PTSD, but focuses time and resources for intervention on only those that screen positive.

2.2 Peer support and social connectedness

Pediatricians, other medical professionals, public health professionals, and community members can engage in policy and advocacy strategies to support youth at immediate risk of suicide, and to address upstream risk and protective strategies that can reduce suicide risk. Children and adolescents, especially in the setting of trauma, are a high-risk demographic group for suicide and should be considered for routine firearm screening and secure storage counseling interventions . Although beyond the scope of this review, there are multiple therapies that may be provided by mental health providers with varying levels of evidence including cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and pharmacologic therapy; however, some studies have shown there is a small increased risk of suicidal behaviors after initiation of some anti-depressant medications .

Find a mental health professional

OSPF employs 11 full-time staff members dedicated to all levels of suicide prevention, including program staff focused on youth, veterans, and coalitions; communications staff; and development staff. This position is responsible for coordinating statewide suicide prevention activities, monitoring implementation of the state’s suicide prevention plan, and supporting the New Hampshire Suicide Prevention Council. The network helps to ensure that state and local agency priorities are heard and recognized, supports regional county task forces, and promotes ownership of suicide prevention across government sectors and geographic regions. Several of Maine’s government offices and departments play a role in suicide prevention, including the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (primary prevention efforts), the Office of Behavioral Health (crisis services), the Department of Labor (workplace efforts), and the Department of Education (school support). The Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB) per legislation (CGS Chapter 319, 17a-52) is the single state-level advisory board that addresses suicide prevention, intervention, and response across the lifespan.

Exposure to trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, significantly increases the risk of adolescent suicide. Impulsivity serves a pivotal function in the transition from suicidal ideation to action, underscoring the necessity for interventions that enhance self-control and coping strategies. Additionally, anxiety disorders, notably generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder demonstrate a strong correlation with suicide risk. Mental health disorders serve as the most substantial individual-level contributors to adolescent suicide. Systemic factors involve limited mental health access, academic pressure, and poverty.

In other recent studies, however, youth and parents have independently identified suicidal communications, withdrawal from people and/or usual activities, and sleep problems as acute warning signs. For advocacy and policy strategies to address youth suicide prevention, click here. It’s designed to help you identify equitable youth suicide prevention strategies and key partnerships in all settings where youth live, learn, work, and spend time. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for national leadership and partnerships to advance youth suicide prevention.

In low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), the prevalence of suicide is reported from data collected from 61 LMICs, showing that suicide rates ranged from 2.3% to 20.3% among adolescents aged 12–15 years (Dema et al. 2019). There were 41 different suicide prevention programmes used across the 53 studies. Studies that included adolescents with pre‐existing mental health conditions, gender and sexual minority groups were excluded. All types of studies conducted among adolescents, outside healthcare facilities and published in English were included. This Blueprint outlines universal, selective, and indicated strategies that pediatric health clinicians can take to prevent youth suicide in clinical, community, and advocacy settings.