Climbing suicide rate for black kids

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics finds that over the last two decades, suicide rates dropped for white children but climbed significantly for blacks, reports Evie Blad for Education Week. Rates for white children dropped from 1.14 per million between 1993 and 1997 to 0.77 per million between 2008 and 2012; for black children, rates increased from 1.36 per million between 1993 and 1997 to 2.56 per million from 2008 to 2012. Suicide is the leading cause of death for school-age children younger than 12, and rates are much higher for boys than girls. Black children are also more likely to experience early onset of puberty, which increases risk through greater liability of depression and impulsive aggression. "Black youth are also less likely to seek help for depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Nevertheless, it remains unclear if any of these factors are related to increasing suicide rates," according to the report. Suicide prevention organizations say they have taken a new approach with schools in recent years, working to help teachers identify warning signs of suicide and mental-health issues at earlier ages. The study's authors recommend further analysis to identify factors that are contributing to racial disparities in this area. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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