A panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health has developed a 10-year plan to advance youth suicide prevention research.
The panel consisted of experts in the fields of clinical psychology, statistics, health education, prevention and community health research, methods research and epidemiology.
The panel identified several critical issues that must be addressed to close research gaps pertaining to youth suicide. It developed the following goals to improve suicide prevention efforts:
• Improve surveillance of at-risk youth by linking information from sources like state all-payer databases, emergency room data and electronic health records.
• Improve understanding of suicide risk across diverse populations and the role of sexual orientation and environmental factors that influence suicide.
• Help practitioners identify effective suicide prevention programs.
• Help coordinate education and training opportunities for providers, schools and communities to undermine the stigma associated with suicide.
"Although youth suicide is pervasive, it can be prevented," said Todd Little, PhD, the panel chair and professor of educational psychology and leadership at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. "Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers must unite to stop suicide and circumvent the devastating pain and suffering it causes. The recommendations in this roadmap can help reduce youth suicide and guide us toward our ultimate goal of eliminating it."
According to the CDC, more than 12,000 individuals ages 10 to 34 committed suicide in 2014. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults.
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