WMJ Vol 119: Age- and Sex-Specific Risk Factors for Youth Suicide: A Mixed Methods Review
ABSTRACT
Background: Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for individuals ages 10 through 34, and rates are rising. This study seeks to broaden the understanding of suicide in youths ages 10-17.
Study Aims: Use a mixed-methods approach to investigate the different characteristics leading to youth suicide by 2 distinct youth age subgroups (pre-high school and high school) and by sex.
Methods: A retrospective review and analysis of the Wisconsin Violent Death Reporting System data on Wisconsin resident suicides was conducted for 146 individuals ages 10 through 17 who died by suicide from 2012 through 2016.
Results: A total of 20 common characteristics were extrapolated from the narratives. Among the 10- to 13-year-old age group, 4 age-specific characteristics emerged: estrangement, exposure to suicide, school issues, and adversity. Six age-specific characteristics emerged among the 14- to 17-year-old age group: history of abuse (P < 0.01), history of self-harm (P < 0.01), and history of suicide attempt (P < 0.01) were highly associated with female sex.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there are unique age and sex-specific characteristics for teenage suicide. This information can be leveraged to plan focused prevention strategies relevant to youth in 2 distinct age groups.
Intended Audience
The target audience for this journal-based activity is healthcare providers caring for the people and communities of Wisconsin and beyond.
Learning Objectives
As a result of this journal-based activity, learners will be able to:
- Describe the burden of suicide among youth in Wisconsin.
- Summarize biopsychosocial circumstances that were present in the lives of Wisconsin youth who died by suicide.
- Discuss potential suicide prevention strategies for two specific subgroups of youth (pre-high school and high school age).
FACULTY DISCLOSURE
It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP that the faculty, authors, planners, and other persons who may influence content of this CE activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests* in order to allow CE staff to identify and resolve any potential conflicts of interest. Faculty must also disclose any planned discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during the educational activity. For this educational activity all conflicts of interests have been resolved and detailed disclosures are listed below:
Name of Individual | Individual's Role in Activity | Name of Commercial Interest & | Discussion of |
Terese Bailey, BS | Accreditation Specialist | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose | No |
Laura Cassidy, PhD, MS | Author | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose | No |
David Dwyer, PhD, RN, NE-BC | Reviewer | University of Wisconsin-Madison (Employment); Eskenazi Health (Spouse/Partner: Employment); Mayo Clinic (Spouse/Partner: Employment); Indiana University (Spouse/Partner: Grant) | No |
Stephen Hargarten, MD, MPH | Author | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose | No |
Sara Kohlbeck, MPH | Author | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose | No |
Roberta Pawlak, PhD, RN, NEA-BC | Reviewer | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclsoe | No |
Patrick Remington, MD, MPH | Reviewer | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose | No |
Sarina Schrager, MD, MS | Editor | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose | No |
Geoffrey Swain, MD | Reviewer | No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose | No |
* The ACCME defines a commercial interest as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service directly to patients to be commercial interests.
Accreditation
Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP and the Wisconsin Medical Journal. The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. |
Credit Designation Statements
American Medical Association (AMA)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this journal-based CE activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this journal-based CE activity for a maximum of 1.0 ANCC contact hour.
Iowa Board of Nursing accepts ANCC contact hours for nursing continuing education requirements.
Continuing Education Units
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP, as a member of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), authorizes this program for 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs) or 1 hour.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.00 ANCC Contact Hours
- 1.00 University of Wisconsin–Madison Continuing Education Hours
- 1.00 Approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™