Racial Disparities in Mental Health Service use by Adolescents who Thought About or Attempted Suicide

Differences in rates & predictors of mental health service use among 2226 black, Hispanic, & white adolescents, age 12-17, who reported recent suicidal thoughts or an attempt were examined. Black adolescents were 65% & Hispanic adolescents were 55% as likely as white adolescents to report service use, even when controlling for need for care & ability to secure services. Suicide attempt & psychiatric symptoms each interacted with ethnicity to increase the odds of service use uniquely for white adolescents. (45 refs.)