Family Support and Good Grades Can Offset Teen Suicide Risks
According to a nationwide study published in the March 2001 issue of Pediatrics that was the result of interviews with more than 13,000 students ages 10 to 19, family support and good grades are among the top factors that can offset risks for teen suicide.
According to a study published in the March 2001 issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Academy of pediatrics (AAP), family support and good grades are among the top factors that can offset risks for teen suicide. For the more than 13,000 students ages 10 to 19 who were interviewed nationwide, perceived parental and family connectedness was the most commonly identified factor that was felt to be a significant protective force against suicide. A high grade point average was felt to be a significant protective factor among boys, and emotional well-being helped to offset any known risk factors among the girls.
The study reports that suicide attempts were most prevalent for white (5.6%) and Hispanic (5.5%) girls and least prevalent for black (1.6%) and white (1.9%) boys. The researchers also broke down risks and protective factors that seem to affect one or two racial, ethnic or gender groups but not all. For example, boys were more at risk if they carried weapons at school or experienced a same-sex romantic attraction. Easy household access to guns or other weapons was most predictive of suicidal behavior for black and Hispanic boys. School-provided counseling services were most protective for Hispanic girls.
The study concluded that a better understanding of factors that predict and protect against suicidal behaviors is important for developing culturally responsive prevention and intervention strategies.
Source: 4therapy.com Life Topics