Schools Often Handle Adolescent Suicide Wrong

John W. Bakaly

doi:10.1037/a0023970

Self-Report vs. Computerized Measures of Impulsivity as a Correlate of Suicidal Behavior

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.22.1.27 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 27-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Netta Horesh

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Attention Deficit Disorder ◽

Impulse Control ◽

Performance Test ◽

Adolescent Suicide ◽

Continuous Performance Test ◽

Self Report ◽

Suicide Attempters ◽

Computerized Measures ◽

Adolescent Suicide Attempters

Objectives: To compare the use of a self-report form of impulsivity versus a computerized test of impulsivity in the assessment of suicidal adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Methods: Sixty consecutive admissions to an adolescent in patient unit were examined. The severity of suicidal behavior was measured with the Childhood Suicide Potential Scale (CSPS), and impulse control was measured with the self report Plutchik Impulse Control Scale (ICS) and with the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), a continuous performance test (CPT). The TOVA is used to diagnose adolescents with attention deficit disorder. Results: There was a significant but low correlation between the two measures of impulsivity. Only the TOVA commission and omission errors differentiated between adolescent suicide attempters and nonattempters. Conclusions: Computerized measures of impulsivity may be a useful way to measure impulsivity in adolescent suicide attempters. Impulsivity appears to play a small role only in nondepressed suicidal adolescents, especially boys.

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Estimating the Magnitude of the Relation Between Bullying, E-Bullying, and Suicidal Behaviors Among United States Youth, 2015

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000544 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 157-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kevin S. Kuehn ◽

Annelise Wagner ◽

Jennifer Velloza

Keyword(s):

Adolescent Suicide ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Causal Effect ◽

Strong Association ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Average Causal Effect ◽

Effects Of Bullying ◽

Pc Algorithm ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Significant Covariates

Abstract. Background: Suicide is the second leading cause of death among US adolescents aged 12–19 years. Researchers would benefit from a better understanding of the direct effects of bullying and e-bullying on adolescent suicide to inform intervention work. Aims: To explore the direct and indirect effects of bullying and e-bullying on adolescent suicide attempts (SAs) and to estimate the magnitude of these effects controlling for significant covariates. Method: This study uses data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS), a nationally representative sample of US high school youth. We quantified the association between bullying and the likelihood of SA, after adjusting for covariates (i.e., sexual orientation, obesity, sleep, etc.) identified with the PC algorithm. Results: Bullying and e-bullying were significantly associated with SA in logistic regression analyses. Bullying had an estimated average causal effect (ACE) of 2.46%, while e-bullying had an ACE of 4.16%. Limitations: Data are cross-sectional and temporal precedence is not known. Conclusion: These findings highlight the strong association between bullying, e-bullying, and SA.

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Child and Adolescent Suicide Deaths in New Mexico, 1990-1994

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.21.1.36 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 36-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

DD Werenko ◽

LM Olson ◽

L Fullerton-Gleason ◽

AW Lynch ◽

RE Zumwalt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Mexico ◽

Cause Of Death ◽

American Indians ◽

Adolescent Suicide ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

And Gender ◽

Youth Activity

The suicide death rate in New Mexico is consistently higher than the national rate. Among adolescents, suicide is the third leading cause of death nationally, but in New Mexico it is the second leading cause of death. This study describes the pattern of adolescent suicide deaths in New Mexico. We conducted a retrospective review of all medical examiner autopsies for adolescent suicides (ages 20 years and younger) in New Mexico from 1990-1994. Records were reviewed for demographics and possible contributing factors such as depression, previous attempts, and alcohol and drug use. We identified 184 suicide deaths among children and adolescents ages 9-20 years for an overall rate of 12.9 per 100,000. Our rates for ages 5-9 years (0.2), 10-14 years (3.8), and 15-19 years (22.3) are over twice the U.S. rates. Suicide deaths resulted primarily from firearms (67%), hanging (16%), poisoning (6%), inhalation (4%), and other methods (7%). Method varied by ethnicity (p = .01) and gender (p = .03); males and non-Hispanic Whites were overrepresented among firearm deaths. Firearm ownership was known in 60 (48%) of the firearm deaths. Of these, 53% of the firearms belonged to a family member, 25% to the decedent, and 22% to a friend. Over one-third of decedents (41%) experienced mental disorders, primarily depressed mood and clinical depression. Previous suicide attempts were noted for 15% of the decedents. Some 50% of the decedents had alcohol or drugs present at the time of death; among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 74% had drugs or alcohol present (p = .003). Targeted interventions are needed to reduce adolescent suicide in New Mexico. We suggest raising awareness about acute and chronic contributing factors to suicide; training physicians to look for behavioral manifestations of depression; and involving physicians, teachers, and youth activity leaders in efforts to limit firearm accessibility, such as advising parents to remove firearms from their households.

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