Gun Violence Exposure and Suicide Among Black Adults.

Importance: Black individuals are disproportionately exposed to gun violence in the US. Suicide rates among Black US individuals have increased in recent years. Objective: To evaluate whether gun violence exposures (GVEs) are associated with suicidal ideation and behaviors among Black adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study used survey data collected from a nationally representative sample of self-identified Black or African American (hereafter, Black) adults in the US from April 12, 2023, through May 4, 2023. Exposures: Ever being shot, being threatened with a gun, knowing someone who has been shot, and witnessing or hearing about a shooting. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcome variables were derived from the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview, including suicidal ideation, suicide attempt preparation, and suicide attempt. A subsample of those exhibiting suicidal ideation was used to assess for suicidal behaviors. Results: The study sample included 3015 Black adults (1646 [55%] female; mean [SD] age, 46.34 [0.44] years [range, 18-94 years]). Most respondents were exposed to at least 1 type of gun violence (1693 [56%]), and 300 (12%) were exposed to at least 3 types of gun violence. Being threatened with a gun (odds ratio [OR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.01-2.05) or knowing someone who has been shot (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.05-1.97) was associated with reporting lifetime suicidal ideation. Being shot was associated with reporting ever planning a suicide (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.10-12.64). Being threatened (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.41-5.09) or knowing someone who has been shot (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.42-5.74) was associated with reporting lifetime suicide attempts. Cumulative GVE was associated with reporting lifetime suicidal ideation (1 type: OR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.19-2.39]; 2 types: OR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.17-2.44]; ≥3 types: OR, 2.27 [95% CI, 1.48-3.48]), suicide attempt preparation (≥3 types; OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 2.37-5.63), and attempting suicide (2 types: OR, 4.78 [95% CI, 1.80-12.71]; ≥3 types: OR, 4.01 [95% CI, 1.41-11.44]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study, GVE among Black adults in the US was significantly associated with lifetime suicidal ideation and behavior. Public health efforts to substantially reduce interpersonal gun violence may yield additional benefits by decreasing suicide among Black individuals in the US.

Tribal Reservation Adolescent Connections Study: A study protocol using mixed methods for examining social networks and associated outcomes among American Indian youth on a Northern Plains reservation.

BACKGROUND: Rich cultural and traditional practices make interpersonal relationships vital for American Indian (AI) youth. Social relations and multigenerational networks (i.e., peer, family, kinship, and community) remain a salient fixture of AI culture, survival and thriving in reservation communities. Research in other populations has demonstrated how social networks impact youth risk and resilience, but data are lacking on AI adolescent networks. Intergenerational trauma from settler colonialism leads some AI youth to early initiation of substance use and subsequent substance misuse, along with disproportionately high risk for suicide and vulnerability to witnessing and experiencing violence. Using network data to develop prevention strategies among this population is a promising new avenue of research. In this study protocol paper, we describe the rationale and methodology of an exploratory study to be conducted with American Indian 9th and 10th graders at three schools on a Northern Plains reservation. METHODS: This mixed methods study will collect quantitative social network surveys (N = 300) and qualitative interviews (n = 30). The study will examine the extent to which existing social network theories and data metrics adequately characterize AI youth networks or how they may need to be expanded for this population. Associations of network characteristics with risk and protective factors for substance use, exposure to violence, and suicide will also be examined. DISCUSSION: This innovative methodological approach holds promise for informing the development of effective preventive approaches to address co-occurring risks for substance use, violence and suicide among AI adolescents. Understanding processes that impact social networks among AI adolescents can promote culturally resonant social relationships that may support better outcomes for youth.

Predição de suicídio entre adolescentes a partir da última década pré-pandêmica em Mato Grosso / Prediction of suicides among teenagers from the last pre- pademic decade in Mato Grosso / Predicción del suicidios en adolescentes de la última década pre-pedémica en Mato Grosso

Objetivo: analisar a predição de suicídios entre adolescentes a partir da última década pré-pandêmica em Mato Grosso. Método: trata-se de estudo ecológico e retrospectivo. A coleta de dados ocorreu em janeiro de 2021, referente ao recorte temporal de 2009 a 2019. Utilizou-se dados secundários do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade via Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Mato Grosso. Para análise dos dados, utilizou-se o programa STATA 14.0. Resultados: a predição de suicídios entre os adolescentes de Mato Grosso revelou predominância do sexo masculino, cor não branca e com oito anos ou mais de escolaridade. Os suicídios em Mato Grosso apresentam estabilidade em relação ao sexo. Quanto a cor, o Centro-Oeste possui maior disparidade quando comparado ao Mato Grosso. Todavia, ambos exibem comportamentos epidemiológicos semelhantes na escolaridade. Conclusão: a partir da última década pré- pandêmica, previu o crescimento de casos de suicídios entre adolescentes em Mato Grosso, e que não se assemelha à totalidade do perfil esperado para a região Centro-Oeste.

Objective: to analyze the prediction of suicides among adolescents from the last pre-pandemic decade in Mato Grosso. Method: this is an ecological and retrospective study. Data collection took place in January 2021, referring to the time frame from 2009 to 2019. Secondary data from the Mortality Information System via the Mato Grosso State Health Department were used. For data analysis, the STATA 14.0 program was used. Results: the prediction of suicides among adolescents in Mato Grosso revealed a predominance of males, non-white and with eight or more years of schooling. Suicides in Mato Grosso show stability in relation to gender. As for color, the Midwest has greater disparity when compared to Mato Grosso. However, both exhibit similar epidemiological behavior in schooling. Conclusion: from the last pre-pandemic decade, it predicted the growth of suicide cases among adolescents in Mato Grosso, which does not resemble the entire profile expected for the Midwest region.

Objetivo: analizar la predicción de suicidios entre adolescentes de la última década pre-pandemia en Mato Grosso. Método: se trata de un estudio ecológico y retrospectivo. La recolección de datos ocurrió en enero de 2021, con referencia al período de 2009 a 2019. Se utilizaron datos secundarios del Sistema de Información de Mortalidad a través de la Secretaría de Estado de Salud de Mato Grosso. Para el análisis de datos se utilizó el programa STATA 14.0. Resultados: la predicción de suicidios entre los adolescentes de Mato Grosso reveló un predominio del sexo masculino, no blancos y con ocho o más años de escolaridad. Suicidios en Mato Grosso muestran estabilidad en relación al género. En cuanto al color, el Centro-Oeste tiene mayor disparidad en comparación con Mato Grosso. Sin embargo, ambos exhiben un comportamiento epidemiológico similar en la escolaridad. Conclusión: a partir de la última década previa a la pandemia, se predijo el crecimiento de los casos de suicidio entre los adolescentes de Mato Grosso, lo que no se asemeja a todo el perfil esperado para la región del Centro- Oeste.

Suicides among American Indian/Alaska Native firefighters: Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003 - 2017.

Suicide is a significant public health problem in the United States and disproportionally affects male American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Suicide is particularly problematic among AI/AN firefighters who are more likely to report suicide ideation, planning, attempts, and risk compared to non-Hispanic white (NHW) firefighters. The aim of the current study was to compare non-Hispanic AI/AN firefighter and NHW firefighter suicide decedents by demographics and risk/precipitating factors using National Violent Death Reporting System data for 45 male non-Hispanic AI/AN firefighter and 588 male NHW firefighter decedents who died by suicide. Compared to NHW firefighter decedents, AI/AN firefighter decedents were significantly younger and had significantly higher odds of experiencing alcohol use problems and a recent death/suicide of a family member/friend. AI/AN firefighter decedents had significantly lower odds of documented mental health problems, documented diagnosis of depression/dysthymia, receipt of mental health treatment, or leaving a suicide note compared to NHW firefighter decedents. Results from this study may inform tailored suicide prevention and screening efforts among first responders with the goal of lowering suicide mortality among AI/AN firefighters and fire service as a whole.

Identifying U.S. regions with the highest suicide rates and examining differences in suicide methods among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Veterans.

The suicide rate among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Veterans increased from 2001 to 2020. Identifying regions where suicide rates are elevated and increasing among AANHPI Veterans would inform targeted prevention efforts for members of this cohort. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of 377,833 AANHPI Veterans to examine suicide rates and methods (2005-2019) by United States (US) region and over time (2005-2009, 2010-2014, 2015-2019), using US Veteran Eligibility Trends and Statistics and Joint DoD/VA Mortality Data Repository data. AANHPI Veterans across most regions experienced increases in suicide rates from the earliest to latest period; however, patterns differed by region. Age-adjusted suicide rates increased across all three periods among those in the Northeast and West, but increased, then declined in the Midwest and South. In 2015-2019, the age-adjusted suicide rate among AANHPI Veterans was highest in the Northeast (42.0 per 100,000) and lowest in the West (27.5). However, the highest percentages of AANHPI Veteran suicide deaths in 2005-2019 occurred in the West (39.5%) and South (34.7%), with lower percentages in the Midwest (15.0%) and Northeast (10.8%). Across regions, those ages 18-34 had the highest suicide rates. Firearms were the most frequently used suicide method across regions (44.4%-60.2%), except the Northeast (35.2%), where suffocation was more common (38.3%). Results suggest particular needs for suicide prevention efforts among AANHPI Veterans in the Northeast and to ensure that lethal means safety initiatives for AANHPI Veterans encompass both firearms and suffocation, with some variations in emphasis across regions.

Identifying latent themes in suicide among black and white adolescents and young adults using the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2013-2019.

Suicide rates for adolescents and young adults (AYA) have risen dramatically in recent years - by almost 60% for Americans aged 10-24 years between 2007 and 2018. This increase has occurred for both whites and Blacks, with the rise in suicide among Black youth of particular note. Blacks historically exhibit lower rates of suicide relative to whites and thus, less is known about the etiology of Black suicide. To gain insight into the underlying causes of suicide among AYA, we examine medical examiner reports from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) from 2013 to 2019 for over 26,000 Black and white suicide decedents ages 10-29. We apply structural topic modeling (STM) approaches to describe the broad contours of AYA suicide in the United States today. Our findings reveal distinct patterns by race. Guns, violence and the criminal justice system are prominent features of Black suicide, whether through the mechanism used in the suicide, either by firearm or other violent means such as fire or electrocution, the existence of criminal or legal problems/disputes, the location of death in a jail, or the presence of police. In contrast, the narratives of white AYA are more likely to reference mental health or substance abuse problems. Access to resources, as measured by county median household income, overlay these patterns. Themes more prevalent among Blacks are more common in poorer counties; those more prevalent among whites tend to be more common in wealthier counties. Our findings are consistent with other studies that suggest Black people experience greater exposure to violence and other traumas, systemic racism and interpersonal discrimination that may elevate the risk for suicidal behavior.

Years of life lost due to deaths of despair and COVID-19 in the United States in 2020: patterns of excess mortality by gender, race and ethnicity.

BACKGROUND: In 2020 COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States. Increases in suicides, overdoses, and alcohol related deaths were seen-which make up deaths of despair. How deaths of despair compare to COVID-19 across racial, ethnic, and gender subpopulations is relatively unknown. Preliminary studies showed inequalities in COVID-19 mortality for Black and Hispanic Americans in the pandemic's onset. This study analyzes the racial, ethnic and gender disparities in years of life lost due to COVID-19 and deaths of despair (suicide, overdose, and alcohol deaths) in 2020. METHODS: This cross-sectional study calculated and compared years of life lost (YLL) due to Deaths of Despair and COVID-19 by gender, race, and ethnicity. YLL was calculated using the CDC WONDER database to pull death records based on ICD-10 codes and the Social Security Administration Period Life Table was used to get estimated life expectancy for each subpopulation. RESULTS: In 2020, COVID-19 caused 350,831 deaths and 4,405,699 YLL. By contrast, deaths of despair contributed to 178,598 deaths and 6,045,819 YLL. Men had more deaths and YLL than women due to COVID-19 and deaths of despair. Among White Americans and more than one race identification both had greater burden of deaths of despair YLL than COVID-19 YLL. However, for all other racial categories (Native American/Alaskan Native, Asian, Black/African American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) COVID-19 caused more YLL than deaths of despair. Also, Hispanic or Latino persons had disproportionately higher mortality across all causes: COVID-19 and all deaths of despair causes. CONCLUSIONS: This study found greater deaths of despair mortality burden and differences in burden across gender, race, and ethnicity in 2020. The results indicate the need to bolster behavioral health research, support mental health workforce development and education, increase access to evidence-based substance use treatment, and address systemic inequities and social determinants of deaths of despair and COVID-19.

Suicide Risk Among Patients With Heart Disease and Heart Failure.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (US). Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death. However, little is known about the risk of suicide in patients with heart disease and heart failure. Using Multiple Cause of Death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database, we used a cross-sectional analysis to examine the risk of suicide in patients with heart disease and heart failure as compared with the general US population and in subgroups within the US. We assessed suicide rate in patients with heart disease and heart failure in the US population as a whole and stratified by race, time, urbanization levels, and census regions using the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death database. Standardized mortality rates were calculated as observed deaths divided by expected deaths. As compared with the general population, patients with heart disease and heart failure had an elevated risk of suicide. This was true across racial and geographic subgroups. There was an elevated risk of suicide in patients with heart disease and heart failure in the United States. For heart disease, there were particular elevations in the Western US, and there was a particular elevation in Black Americans compared with the age-matched population.

Study Preregistration: Does State-level Structural Racism Impact Risk for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among US Adolescents Across Race and Ethnicity?

In the United States, suicide deaths have disproportionately increased among Black and Hispanic youth over the past 2 decades.1 Despite the critical need for more culturally responsive suicide prevention strategies, there has been only sparse research into unique risk factors commonly experienced among ethnoracially minoritized youth, such as racism-related experiences. Experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination (ie, a behavioral manifestation of racism via unfair treatment predicated on an individual's racial and/or ethnic group affiliation) have been associated with higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in Black and Hispanic adolescents.2,3 This research has largely focused on individual-level racism (ie, interpersonal exchanges) assessed via subjective self-report surveys. Thus, less is known about the impact of structural racism, which is enacted at the system level.

Evaluation of the Risk Identification for Suicide and Enhanced Care Model in a Native American Community.

Importance: There are many prognostic models of suicide risk, but few have been prospectively evaluated, and none has been developed specifically for Native American populations. Objective: To prospectively validate a statistical risk model implemented in a community setting and evaluate whether use of this model was associated with improved reach of evidence-based care and reduced subsequent suicide-related behavior among high-risk individuals. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prognostic study, done in partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, used data collected by the Apache Celebrating Life program for adults aged 25 years or older identified as at risk for suicide and/or self-harm from January 1, 2017, through August 31, 2022. Data were divided into 2 cohorts: (1) individuals and suicide-related events from the period prior to suicide risk alerts being active (February 29, 2020) and (2) individuals and events from the time after alerts were activated. Main Outcomes and Measures: Aim 1 focused on a prospective validation of the risk model in cohort 1. Aim 2 compared the odds of repeated suicide-related events and the reach of brief contact interventions among high-risk cases between cohort 2 and cohort 1. Results: Across both cohorts, a total of 400 individuals identified as at risk for suicide and/or self-harm (mean [SD] age, 36.5 [10.3] years; 210 females [52.5%]) had 781 suicide-related events. Cohort 1 included 256 individuals with index events prior to active notifications. Most index events (134 [52.5%]) were for binge substance use, followed by 101 (39.6%) for suicidal ideation, 28 (11.0%) for a suicide attempt, and 10 (3.9%) for self-injury. Among these individuals, 102 (39.5%) had subsequent suicidal behaviors. In cohort 1, the majority (220 [86.3%]) were classified as low risk, and 35 individuals (13.3%) were classified as high risk for suicidal attempt or death in the 12 months after their index event. Cohort 2 included 144 individuals with index events after notifications were activated. For aim 1, those classified as high risk had a greater odds of subsequent suicide-related events compared with those classified as low risk (odds ratio [OR], 3.47; 95% CI, 1.53-7.86; P = .003; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.65). For aim 2, which included 57 individuals classified as high risk across both cohorts, during the time when alerts were inactive, high-risk individuals were more likely to have subsequent suicidal behaviors compared with when alerts were active (OR, 9.14; 95% CI, 1.85-45.29; P = .007). Before the active alerts, only 1 of 35 (2.9%) individuals classified as high risk received a wellness check; after the alerts were activated, 11 of 22 (50.0%) individuals classified as high risk received 1 or more wellness checks. Conclusions and Relevance: This study showed that a statistical model and associated care system developed in partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe enhanced identification of individuals at high risk for suicide and was associated with a reduced risk for subsequent suicidal behaviors and increased reach of care.

Temporal Location of Changes in the US Suicide Rate by Age, Ethnicity, and Race: A Joinpoint Analysis 1999-2020.

ABSTRACT: Suicide rates differ over time. Our objective was to determine when significant changes occurred by age, race, and ethnicity in the United States between 1999 and 2020. National Center for Health Statistics WONDER data were used in joinpoint regression. The annual percent change in suicide rate increased for all race, ethnic, and age groups, except for those 65 years and older. For American Indian/Alaska Natives, the largest increase occurred between 2010 and 2020 for those with ages 25 to 34 years. For Asian/Pacific Islander, the largest increase occurred among those 15 to 24 years old between 2011 and 2016. For Black/African-Americans, the largest increases occurred between 2010 and 2020 among 15- to 34-year-olds. For Whites, the largest increase occurred between 2014 and 2017 among 15- to 24-year-olds. Between 2018 and 2020, suicide rates significantly declined among Whites 45 to 64 years of age. Among Hispanics, significant increases in suicide rate occurred between 2012 and 2020 among those with ages 15 to 44 years. Between 1999 and 2020, the contour of suicide burden varied by age groups, race, and ethnicity.

The Association Between Resiliency Factors and Suicide Indicators Among American Indian/Alaska Native Middle School Students in New Mexico: A Strength-Based Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is a leading cause of death among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) young people aged 10-19 years in the United States, but data collection and reporting in this population are lacking. We examined results of an oversample project in New Mexico to determine the association between resiliency factors and suicide-related behaviors among AI/AN middle school students. METHODS: We conducted analyses using data from the 2019 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey for students in grades 6 through 8. An oversampling method was used to increase the sample size of AI/AN students. We used logistic regression to determine the association between resiliency factors and suicide indicators among AI/AN students, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Among female AI/AN students, community support had the strongest protective effect against having seriously thought about suicide (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.14-0.38), while family support was significantly associated with the lowest odds of having made a suicide plan (aOR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08-0.28) and having attempted suicide (aOR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.13-0.34) (P < .001 for all). Among male AI/AN students, school support had the strongest protective effect against all 3 outcomes: seriously thought about suicide (aOR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.19-0.62; P < .001), having made a suicide plan (aOR = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.39; P < .001), and having attempted suicide (aOR = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.12-0.65; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Oversampling AI/AN young people can help accurately quantify and understand health risk behaviors and strengths of this population, leading to improved health and wellness. Family, community, and school-based support should be considered in interventions geared toward suicide prevention among AI/AN young people.

Culturally responsive assessment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth of color.

The significance of youth suicide as a public health concern is underscored by the fact that it is the second-leading cause of death for youth globally. While suicide rates for White groups have declined, there has been a precipitous rise in suicide deaths and suicide-related phenomena in Black youth; rates remain high among Native American/Indigenous youth. Despite these alarming trends, there are very few culturally tailored suicide risk assessment measures or procedures for youth from communities of color. This article attempts to address this gap in the literature by examining the cultural relevancy of currently widely used suicide risk assessment instruments, research on suicide risk factors, and approaches to risk assessment for youth from communities of color. It also notes that researchers and clinicians should consider other, nontraditional but important factors in suicide risk assessment, including stigma, acculturation, and racial socialization, as well as environmental factors like health care infrastructure and exposure to racism and community violence. The article concludes with recommendations for factors that should be considered in suicide risk assessment for youth from communities of color. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Deaths of Despair and Population Aging in Missouri.

Recent declines in life expectancy in the US, especially for middle-aged White persons, have called attention to mortality from deaths of despair - deaths due to alcohol, drugs, and suicide. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Census Bureau, this paper examined deaths of despair by race/ethnicity, age, cause of death, birth cohort, and sex in Missouri. We focused on Area Agencies on Aging as geographic units of interest to increase usefulness of our findings to public administrators. Deaths of despair began trending up for all age groups beginning in 2007-2009, with the sharpest increases occurring for Black or African American non-Hispanics beginning in 2013-2015. The most dramatic increases occurred for the population age 50-59 in St. Louis City and Area Agency on Aging regions in southern Missouri. For older adults, considerable variation in rates, trends, and cause of deaths of despair is evident across the state.

Racial/ethnic discrimination and suicide-related risk in a treatment-seeking group of ethnoracially minoritized adolescents.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Despite growing evidence demonstrating the negative mental health effects of racism-related experiences, racial/ethnic discrimination is seldom examined in youth suicide risk. The present study tested the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and well-supported correlates of suicide-related risk including emotion reactivity and dysregulation, and severity of psychiatric symptoms in a sample of ethnoracially minoritized adolescents receiving outpatient psychiatric services. METHODS: Participants were adolescents (N = 46; 80.4% female; 65.2% Latinx) who ranged in age from 13-20 years old (M=15.42; SD=1.83) recruited from a child outpatient psychiatry clinic in a low-resourced community in Northeast US. Youth completed a clinical interview and a battery of surveys. RESULTS: Findings from separate linear regression models show that increases in frequency of racial/ethnic discrimination were associated with increases in severity of suicidal ideation (SI), independent of emotion reactivity and dysregulation, and symptoms of PTSD and depression. Discriminatory experiences involving personal insults, witnessing family being discriminated, and school-based contexts were uniquely associated with SI. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings support the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and increased severity of suicide-related risk in ethnoracially minoritized adolescents. Accounting for racial/ethnic discrimination may improve the cultural responsiveness of youth suicide prevention strategies within outpatient psychiatric care.

Comparison of US Firearm-Related Deaths Among Children and Adolescents by Race and Ethnicity, 1999-2020.

This study assesses racial and ethnic differences in overall burden of firearm-related mortality and in change in firearm-related mortality among youths from 1999 to 2020.

Evaluating the strengths and challenges of PAX dream makers approach to mental health promotion: perspectives of youth and community members in indigenous communities in Manitoba, Canada.

PAX Good Behaviour Game (PAX-GBG) is an evidence-based approach to co-create a nurturing environment where all children can thrive. This school-based approach was identified as a promising intervention for suicide prevention by First Nations communities in Manitoba, Canada. To enhance this mental health promotion approach, PAX Dream Makers was developed. It is a youth-led addition to PAX-GBG for middle and high school students. This study's aim was to examine, from the communities' perspectives, the influence of PAX Dream Makers on youth as well as its strengths, challenges and suggestions for future improvements. A case study method was conducted using interviews and focus groups with 30 youth and 17 adult mentors and elders. Participants reported that PAX Dream Makers provided support and encouragement to the youth, increased their resilience and provided an opportunity to be positive role models. It strengthened PAX-GBG implementation in schools. Challenges included: adult mentors availability, frequent teacher turn-over and community mental distress. Suggestions expressed were: being mindful of cultural and community contexts, increasing community leadership's understanding of PAX-GBG and better recruitment of mentors and youth. PAX Dream Makers approach was well-received by communities and holds great promise for promoting the well-being of First Nations youth.

Editorial: Black Adolescent Suicide in America: Insights From a Large Epidemiological Study.

As we sat down to review Sheftall et al.,1 we came across a chilling report in the venerable New York Times: "US suicides declined overall in 2020 but may have risen among people of color." The synchronicity would have been noteworthy, had the 2 reports not been so tragic. The pathos of the newspaper story was how painfully familiar it was, how heartbreakingly unsurprising, how sadly it rang true. This issue of the Journal includes the largest epidemiological study on Black adolescent suicide published to date. The article by Sheftall et al.1 provides reliable, granular, and actionable information about this major public health challenge.

Suicide rates by ethnic group among patients in contact with mental health services: an observational cohort study in England and Wales.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence on suicide rates among psychiatric patients from minority ethnic backgrounds is scarce. We aimed to examine suicide rates among minority ethnic psychiatric patients and describe their social and clinical characteristics. METHODS: We did a retrospective observational cohort study on a national case-series of patients in England and Wales who died by suicide within 12 months of contact with mental health services between 2007 and 2018. Data were collected as part of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health. Suicide rates and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were estimated for South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi), Black African, Black Caribbean, Chinese, and White patients. FINDINGS: A total of 698 patients in the four minority ethnic groups of South Asian, Black Caribbean, Black African, and Chinese were included (482 [69%] men; 216 [31%] women; mean age 41 years [SD 14·9, range 12-91] and compared with 13 567 White patients (9030 [66·6%] men; 4537 [33·4%] women; mean age 48 years [SD 15·8, range 10-100]). Rates and SMRs for suicide among minority ethnic patients were lower than for White patients (2·73 deaths, 95% CI 2·68-2·78) per 100 000 population. Differences were found between ethnic groups with higher suicide rates in Black Caribbean patients (1·89 deaths [95% CI 1·55-2·23] per 100 000 population) and lower rates in South Asian patients (1·49 deaths [1·33-1·64] per 100 000 population). There was an increase in rates among White patients in 2007-12 followed by a fall but no change among other ethnic groups. Schizophrenia was more common among Black African patients (54%) and Black Caribbean patients (44%), while affective disorder was more common among South Asian patients (41%). Minority ethnic patients overall showed markers of social adversity and received higher intensity care yet were viewed by clinicians as at lower risk than White patients. INTERPRETATION: Effective approaches to prevention might differ between minority ethnic groups. Clinicians and the services in which they work should be aware of the common and distinct social and clinical needs of minority ethnic patients with mental illness. FUNDING: The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.

Suicide among Asian young people aged under 25 years in Aotearoa New Zealand: different methods warrant different preventive initiatives.

BACKGROUND: The Asian population is growing rapidly in New Zealand and is expected to overtake Maori and Pacific population groups by 2038. Although there has been research on suicide in elderly Asian people in New Zealand, there is relatively little knowledge regarding suicide within Asian young people. AIMS: To describe the characteristics and prevalence of suicide among Asian young people aged 10-24 years between 2002 and 2017. METHODS: A retrospective review of all child and adolescent suicide deaths in New Zealand was conducted using a national database. RESULTS: Results include a pattern of increasing deaths with increasing age, with 87.5% over the age of 16 years, and two-thirds of deaths occurring in the Auckland region. The majority of Asian young people who died by suicide were born outside of New Zealand (80.7%), consistent with the fact that the majority (77%) of the Asian population in New Zealand were born overseas. However, deaths tended to decrease with longer duration of residence in New Zealand. That certain methods of suicide were more prominent among Asian young people has important implications for suicide prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there has been no significant change in the rates of suicide between 2002 and 2017. Young Asian people who die by suicide come from heterogeneous cultural and linguistic traditions, so prevention strategies need to be culturally responsive and delivered across multiple settings, including education, primary care and mental health services. However, certain methods are more common in many Asian countries, such as jumping from a height. We found this method was more commonly used by Asian young people compared with NZ Europeans, which should be a consideration in town planning, particularly in areas where there is a significant Asian population as part of a multilevel approach to suicide prevention.