Social support and its effects on attempted suicide among American Indian/Alaska Native youth in New Mexico

Objective: How social support (SS) affects the odds of suicide attempt among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth in New Mexico and is modified by school location and metropolitan status. Methods: Multiple logistic regression for complex design was used to produce the adjusted odds of suicide attempt by SS using the New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (NM-YRRS) […]

Suicide in the Mountain West Region of the United States.

Background: The Mountain West region of the United States consistently reports the highest rates of suicide in the country. This pattern could reflect a regional culture-of-suicide script in support of suicide that implicitly influences individual’s behavior. Aims: The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether suicide rates are elevated in the Mountain West across a wide […]

Trends in Adult Suicides in New Mexico: Utilizing Data from the New Mexico Violent Death Reporting System

The authors utilized data collected by the New Mexico Violent Death Reporting System in 2005-2006 in order to define the demographic patterns of adult suicides in the state & to characterize risk factors. A total of 526 suicides occurred during this period, with the majority of victims being male & white non-Hispanics. The highest incidence […]

The sad State of Healthcare in New Mexico: Healthcare Worker Suicide in New Mexico 2004-2005

This study sought to determine if there is a statistically significant relationship between suicide & healthcare occupations in New Mexico for the years 2004-2005. The database that was generated included 658 suicides, 34 of which were healthcare workers. The suicide rate for healthcare workers was higher in 2004 than the suicide rate for the New […]

Attachment Representation and Suicidal Ideation in Vietnam Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

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Subsequent Suicide Mortality Among Emergency Department Patients Seen for Suicidal Behavior

Patients presenting for suicide attempt or ideation, self-harm, or overdose between 1994-2004 were compared with patients coming to a New Mexico emergency room for other reasons. Among the 218,304 patients, the average follow-up was 6.0 years; there were 408 suicides. Males had a higher rate than females. A single emergency department visit for overdose, suicide […]

Suicide in New Mexico

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Outcome Evaluation of a Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention in an American Indian Tribal Nation

The efficacy of 15 years of a public health-oriented suicidal behaviour prevention program among youths living on an American Indian reservation was evaluated. Both descriptive & linear regression analyses indicated that a substantial drop occurred in suicidal gestures & attempts. Suicide deaths neither declined significantly nor increased, although the total number of self-destructive acts declined […]

Suicide Prevention and Intervention in Schools: Guide I-107

School Mental Health Initiative – Policies and Procedures for School Based Health Centers: Suicide Prevention/Intervention

This document outlines the policies & procedures of the New Mexico Youth Suicide Prevention Plan, Phase 1. The procedures are designed to ensure the safety of students, to facilitate positive change in students’ lives, & to assist schools in crisis management. Suggested forms for school use (a suicide intervention documentation form, a parent contact sheet, […]

Governor Richardson’s Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force: Preventing Youth Suicide. Recommendations to the Governor, January 7, 2005

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Hope for the Heart: New Mexico Youth Suicide Prevention Plan – Phase one, September 1999

The New Mexico Youth Suicide Prevention Plan is presented & its purposes identified: to provide (1) an overview of the current status of youth suicide in the state, & (2) a framework for developing statewide & community strategies that will encourage organizations & individuals to reduce youth suicide. Various prevention approaches are described & resources […]

Predictors of Suicidal Behaviours Among Depressed Teenage Students in New Mexico

The theme of this Conference was “Injuries, Suicide & Violence: Building Knowledge, Policies & Practices to Promote a Safer World”

Alcohol and Suicide Death Among American Indians of New Mexico: 1980-1998

The relationship between alcohol use prior to suicide was explored among American Indians in New Mexico for the years 1980 through 1998. Analyses indicated that alcohol use prior to suicide was significantly more associated with male suicides than females, & it was negatively correlated for those who died by overdose & also those using other […]

Differences in Nonfatal Suicide Behaviors Among Mexican and European American Middle School Children

This report describes ethnic & gender differences in suicide ideation among 2 large samples of middle school students in New Mexico (n=2140) & Texas (n=1302). Students completed a self-administered questionnaire on suicide ideation & psychosocial risk factors. Mexican Americans in both samples reported significantly higher prevalence of suicide ideation than did their European American counterparts. […]

Adolescent Suicide in the West

This presentation examined suicide trends in the United States & then looked at suicide in the western United States, particularly the nature of suicide & adolescent suicide in New Mexico. Some conclusions & examples of how this type of informaiton can be utilized in suicide prevention were offered.

Guns, Alcohol, and Intimate Partner Violence: the Epidemiology of Female Suicide in New Mexico

Female suicide deaths in New Mexico from 1990-1994 were examined to identify & describe associated risk factors. Non-Hispanic whites were overrepresented compared to Hispanics & American Indians. Firearms accounted for 45.7% of the suicides. Intimate partner violence was documented in 5.1% of cases; in another 22.1% of cases, a male intimate partner fought with or […]

Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Among Mexican-Origin and Anglo Adolescents

A study on the prevalence of depressive symptoms & suicidal ideation, their comorbidity, & associated risk in adolescence. A questionaire was completed by students in 3 middle grades. Suicidal ideation among adolescents is in the 10-20% range, while rates of depressive symptoms are in the 35-50% range. Mexican-American youths appear to be at higher risk. […]

Perspectives on Health Care Delivery Systems for American Indian Families

The national effort to improve services to children with special health care needs challenges service delivery to American Indians. New Mexican American Indian families of special needs children & health care providers were questioned. Their responses about health care obstacles for their children & suggestions for improvement were examined. Findings show a need for understanding […]

An Update on American Indian Suicide in New Mexico, 1980-1987

This paper updates a previous study of American Indian suicide in New Mexico which covered the years 1957-1979. Rates for completed suicide among the Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo for 1980-87 are compared to earlier rates, as are selected demographic and situational variables. Major findings suggest that suicide rates are stabilizing or declining for all 3 […]

Psychological and Social Indicators of Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempts in Zuni Adolescents

Baseline data on the correlates of suicide ideation & the social & psychological differences between suicide attempters & nonattempters were collected on a sample of 84 Zuni adolescents. Results show significant correlations between a measure of suicide ideation & items such as past suicide attempt behaviour, drug use, depression, & hopelessness. Significant differences between the […]

Suicide and Self-Destruction Among American Indian Youths

This article reviews selected studies & data on suicide & self-destruction among various tribes of American Indians. Statistics on Indian tribes are provided, including rates for New Mexican Indian tribes. An epidemiology of attempted suicide rates is presented, including age, gender, & other factors. Motor vehicle accidents are also discussed. The author concludes by describing […]

Injury Mortality in New Mexico’s American Indians, Hispanics, and Non-Hispanic Whites, 1958 to 1982

Presents proportionate injury mortality & age-adjusted & age-specific injury mortality rates for three major ethnic groups in New Mexico. Age-adjusted mortality rates for total external causes were found to vary widely between the sexes & among ethnic groups. Detailed findings are given & the authors conclude that minority populations in New Mexico are at high […]