Download - New York State Office of Mental Health

Saving Lives in New York Volume 2: Approaches and Special Populations
Adolescents
Madelyn Gould, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor in Clinical Public Health (Epidemiology) in Psychiatry,
College of Physicians and Surgeons & Mailman School of Public Health,
Columbia University & Research Scientist, New York State Psychiatric Institute
James C. MacIntyre, M.D.
Chief of Psychiatry & Clinical Director (Emeritus)
Bureau of Children & Families,
New York State Office of Mental Health.
Marcia Fazio
Division of Quality Management,
New York State Office of Mental Health
I. FINDINGS
Over the past two decades, research on
youth suicide has yielded invaluable information
on who is at risk for suicide, shaping
our prevention strategies. The key findings
are:
A. Overall Rates and Secular Patterns
in New York State
• Over 150,000 New York State teenagers
attempt suicide each year, and approximately
70 die by suicide.
• More than 1 out of 10 tenth graders in
New York State will attempt suicide this
year.
• New York State ranks fourth in the
nation on the number of suicide deaths
among 10 to 24 year olds (See Table 1).
• During the past decade, there has been
little change in the youth suicide death
rates in New York State. However,
there has been a slight tapering off
among boys and whites since 1994,
paralleling the decrease in national
rates (See Tables 3 and 4).
B. Risk Factors
• 90% of adolescents who die by suicide
have a mental disorder at the time of
their death.
• The majority of youth who die by suicide
do not receive treatment for their
psychiatric disorder. This is particularly
distressing because dialectical behavior
therapy, cognitive- behavior therapy,
and treatment with antidepressants
have been identified as promising treatments
of youth suicide.
• A prior suicide attempt is one
of the strongest predictors of
completed suicide.
• Although suicidal ideation and
attempts are more common among
girls, five times more teenage boys than
girls commit suicide. This may partly
reflect a sex-related method preference:
methods favored by girls and women,
such as overdoses, tend to be less
lethal in the U.S. Boys are apt to use
more lethal means, such as firearms.
• The most common diagnoses in young
people who die by suicide are mood
disorder, alcohol or drug abuse (in
boys), and conduct disorder.
• Most suicide deaths are triggered by
getting into trouble – leading to a legal
or disciplinary problem – or breaking
up with a girlfriend or boyfriend.
• Many suicidal teens have parents and
other family members who have been
Adolescents 37