Differentiating between youth with a history of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts

Date

2023-02-24

Authors

Rivers, Alannah Shelby
Winston-Lindeboom, Payne
Atte, Tita
Rosen, Perri
Wintersteen, Matt
Watkins, Nicole Kathleen
Tien, Allen
Diamond, Guy

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Limited research has examined factors distinguishing between patterns of adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The current study examined demographic, school, family, and mental health differences across patterns identified by Romanelli and colleagues (2022): history of thoughts only, plans with thoughts, attempt with thoughts and/or plans, and attempt without thoughts. The current study includes 4,233 students (Mage = 14.65 years, SD = 2.06) with a history of suicide risk referred to school Student Assistance Program teams. The sample was approximately 60.7% female, 59.8% White (16.0% Black, 15.4% multiracial, 8.8% other), and 14.4% Hispanic. Results indicated that the “attempt without thoughts” group was small with no differentiating characteristics. However, membership in the other three groups was predicted by demographic, school, family, and mental health factors. These results support the importance of examining suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts as distinct indicators and assessing key biopsychosocial factors. Further research could improve how behavioral health systems identify at risk youth.

Description

Keywords

Adolescent, Depression, Mental Health, Students, Suicidal Thoughts

Citation

This is the publisher’s version of an article that is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-023-09575-0. Recommended citation: Rivers, A.S., Winston-Lindeboom, P., Atte, T. et al. Differentiating Between Youth with a History of Suicidal Thoughts, Plans, and Attempts. School Mental Health 15, 627–636 (2023). This item has been deposited in accordance with publisher copyright and licensing terms and with the author’s permission.