Youth Suicide Study

Utah’s consistently high youth suicide rate prompted the development of the Utah Youth Suicide Study, with the goal of identifying opportunities for prevention among adolescents (Gray et al., 2001). Using death certificates provided by the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME), additional data were collected from multiple government agencies on consecutive youth suicides.

One-hundred-fifty-one consecutive suicides (N=151) were examined in Phase I. Eighty-nine percent (n=134) of the subjects were male; firearms were the most common method of death at 58% (n=88) and handguns were the most common type of firearm used (n=44 of 88). Of the 151 subjects, 95 had had contact with the juvenile justice system. Of those, 51 youth had one or more referrals for substance abuse, possession or use. Thirty-two percent (n=30 of 95) had at least one felony referral (Gray et al., 2001). Referral to the court system was a risk factor for completed suicide, with an odds ratio of 5-2. Suicide completers involved with juvenile justice had several more offenses than the control group.

Additionally, suicide cases among juvenile offenders 18-21 years of age were compared to a control group of 18-year-olds (N=40,537). The study subjects were significantly different from controls in comparison to the overall distribution of the number of offenses, and the rates of total offenses per case in the suicide group were significantly greater than controls. Because so many previous suicide completers had had contact with the courts, the researchers hypothesized that the juvenile justice system would provide new opportunities to screen male youth for mental health issues and suicide risk. (Gray et al, 2001).

Research indicates that at least one in five juveniles under age 18 who has been arrested has serious mental health problems. However, investigations of juvenile offender facilities show that mental health services for youth are insufficient. Even fewer resources are available for juvenile offenders involved with probation officers outside juvenile facilities in Utah (Thomas, 2002).

Several studies have demonstrated that over 90% of young suicide completers demonstrate major psychiatric disorders. Suicide prevention programs traditionally target attempters, with somewhat limited success. Youth suicide attempters and completers have different characteristics, with only a small overlap. For example, 80%-90% of attempters are female, and more than 80% of completers are male. Research suggests that primary risk factors for suicide include specific mental health disorders such as "major depressive, as well as other moderate and mild mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, conduct (delinquency) disorders, and anxiety disorders. One of the distinguishing features of adolescent suicide is that it may be precipitated by a psychosocial stressor such as a recent loss, rejection, or disciplinary crisis. However, these events are common in a normal adolescent's life" (Zamekin et al., 2001, p 4).

VIPP has collaborated with the Juvenile Court System, University of Utah, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Utah Youth Village, and the Local Interagency Council to implement the sixth phase of the Utah Youth Suicide Study. The study is focusing its efforts to prevent suicide among Utah's highest risk group — Caucasian males ages 17-23 with eight or more offenses. Using mental health treatment as a form of secondary prevention, the study will include male youth ages 13-16 with 4 to 12 offenses.