How to Identify Suicide Risk In Black Youth

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, which helps promote awareness around suicide, highlight resources on prevention, and identify ways to talk more openly about suicide to help others decrease risk. Suicide is a serious mental health concern. It often occurs along with symptoms of depression, which can be treated with therapy. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Black Children & Suicide Prevention: A Call To Action However, many are reluctant to seek professional help for mental health issues, especially in the Black community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the third leading cause of death among Black youth. Therefore, it is important that we identify risks early to prevent actual suicide attempts. Risk Factors of Suicide An article published in the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (Horwitz, Czyz, & King, 2015) looked at suicide attempts in teens and young adults. The study identified specific risk factors for engaging in suicidal behaviors. According to the study by Horwitz and his co-authors increased risk of suicide was related to socioeconomic status, severity of suicidal thoughts, past history of suicide attempts, and a history of self-injurious behavior (e.g., cutting). Although these signs help to identify risk,...