Suicide Acceptability is Related to Suicide Planning in U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults

The association between adolescents’ & young adults’ attitudes toward suicide & their own suicidality across 5 ethnic classifications was studied in a nationally representative sample of 3,301 youth, age 14-22 years. Results indicate adolescents & young adults who most strongly believe it is acceptable to end one’s life are more than 14 times more likely to make a plan to kill themselves as those who do not have such beliefs. Future behavioural prevention & intervention research should take into consideration adolescents’ & young adults’ approval of suicide as a risk factor for taking their own life. (49 refs.)