Year: 2022 Source: Washington, DC: Author. (2020). 51 p. SIEC No: 20220009

Congress requested the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report examining reasons for why Black children aged 5 to 12 are dying by suicide at nearly twice the rate of their White counterparts. To supplement the limited research that investigated reasons for higher suicide rates in Black children compared to White children, we analyzed National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data between 2014–2017, to examine the risk and precipitating factors in 274 non-Hispanic  lack children and 1992 non-Hispanic White children aged 10 to 17, who died by suicide. Compared to
their White peers, Black youth had higher rates of experiencing a crisis in the two weeks prior to their death by suicide, had a family relationship problem, argument or conflict and a history of suicide
attempts. In contrast, Black youth had lower rates of a current known mental health problem, current depressed mood, a history of suicidal thoughts or plans, and either a past or current treatment for
mental illness compared to White youth. Lower rates of current or past mental health problems despite higher rates of past suicide attempts suggests that Black youth have limited access to and/or utilization
of mental health services. Early detection and mitigation of modifiable risk factors for suicide, including identification and treatment of mental health issues, interpersonal problem-solving skills training, and
family-based interventions that improve interactions are critical components of evidence-based suicide prevention interventions in Black children and youth. Prevention of the downstream outcome of death
by suicide in Black children and youth cannot be achieved without actively addressing the upstream risk factors such as healthcare disparities, and social determinants of health including racism.