Session: Suicide Prevention: Synergies with Promotion of Health Equity (Society for Prevention Research 24th Annual Meeting)

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 15-34, and suicide attempt rates are highest during adolescence. Consensus is increasing among researchers and policy makers that preventing suicidal behavior is a key strategy for reducing suicide in the population. Adolescents and young adults who die by suicide are over-represented in population segments with greater obstacles to health equity. Populations at high risk for suicide include indigenous groups (e.g., American Indian, Alaska Natives); impoverished youth with disrupted caregiving or chronic violence exposure; and youth who experience interpersonal aggression (e.g., sexual minorities).  The concentration of suicide risk in these groups reflects the heterogeneous pathways to suicidal behavior, influenced by risk processes across social-ecological, psychological, and biological systems. The interface of suicide risk and other health barriers creates potential synergies between suicide prevention and efforts to promote health equity. For example, a universal suicide prevention intervention designed to increase healthy social ties and youth help seeking in underserved high schools improved school engagement among youth participants (Wyman et al., 2010). Indicated suicide prevention interventions for youth who are suicidal or with mental health problems may leverage opportunities to improve broader behavioral health and functioning in at-risk populations. Conversely, childhood prevention programs designed to reduce youth problems such as substance use and delinquency can reduce adolescent suicidal behavior, as shown by seminal research of the Good Behavior Game (Wilcox et al., 2008). This symposium brings together researchers from multiple disciplines and institutions to cover diverse examples of suicide prevention that reflect potential synergies with increasing health equity.

The first paper, “Addressing Suicide Prevention Through Universal Childhood Intervention: Results From The Seattle Social Development Project Intervention” examines the long-term intervention impact on suicidal ideation and related outcomes for a universal social-development intervention implemented in 18 public elementary schools serving high-crime neighborhoods.

The second paper, “Selected Suicide Prevention Strategies for Youth” summarizes two studies focused on enhancing developmental trajectories for high risk, urban underserved adolescents.

The third paper, “Diffusion of a Peer-Led Suicide Prevention Program” examines implementation factors that promote intervention spread through underserved secondary schools. 

 The discussant (Amy Goldstein, NIMH project officer) will address implications for promoting health equity and linkages between suicide prevention specialists and other prevention researchers.