Abstract
Suicides are among the 10 leading causes of death in U.S. children 12 years of age and younger. The purpose of this study was to examine trends and methods of suicide in children by race and gender from 2010 to 2019, the most recent years of data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child suicides statistically significantly increased for black (95%), white (158%), male (95%), and female (300%) children during the decade. Additionally, the methods children used to commit suicide did not significantly differ by race or gender. The leading method of suicide used by children was strangulation/suffocation depending on race and gender (67%–85%). The second most common method of suicide was by the use of a firearm, again depending on race and gender (11%–30%). Northeastern states had the fewest child suicides during the decade and Texas and California had the most child suicides. Policymakers need to commit more resources and research funding to better detect risk factors, protective factors, and effective interventions for reducing child suicides.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Price, J. H., & Khubchandani, J. (2019). The changing characteristics of African-American adolescent suicides, 2001–2017. Journal of Community Health, 44(4), 756–763.
Yockey, R. A., King, K., & Vidourek, R. (2021). Trends in suicidal behaviors among US adults 2015–2018. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 42(5), 351–359. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000732
Price, J. H., Khubchandani, J., & Price, J. A. (2021). The rising tide of elderly African-American suicides: a call for action. Journal of the National Medical Association, 46,1050–1058.1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2021.03.009
Bridge, J. A., Asti, L., Horowitz, L. M., Greenhouse, J. B., Fontanella, C. A., Sheftall, A. H., et al. (2015). Suicide trends among elementary school–aged children in the United States from 1993 to 2012. JAMA Pediatrics, 169(7), 673–677.
Mayes, S. D., Calhoun, S. L., Baweja, R., & Mahr, F. (2015). Suicide ideation and attempts in children with psychiatric disorders and typical development. Crisis, 36(1), 55–60.
Whalen, D. J., Dixon-Gordon, K., Belden, A. C., Barch, D., & Luby, J. L. (2015). Correlates and consequences of suicidal cognitions and behaviors in children ages 3 to 7 years. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(11), 926–937.
Sheftall, A. H., Asti, L., Horowitz, L. M., Felts, A., Fontanella, C. A., Campo, J. V., et al. (2016). Suicide in elementary school-aged children and early adolescents. Pediatrics, 138(4), e20160436.
Burstein, B., Agostino, H., & Greenfield, B. (2019). Suicidal attempts and ideation among children and adolescents in US emergency departments, 2007–2015. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(6), 598–600.
Bridge, J. A., Horowitz, L. M., Fontanella, C. A., Sheftall, A. H., Greenhouse, J., Kelleher, K. J., et al. (2018). Age-related racial disparity in suicide rates among US youths from 2001 through 2015. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(7), 697–699.
Ruch, D. A., Heck, K. M., Sheftall, A. H., Fontanella, C. A., Stevens, J., Zhu, M., et al. (2021). Characteristics and precipitating circumstances of suicide among children aged 5 to 11 years in the United States, 2013–2017. JAMA Network Open, 4(7), e2115683.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS): Fatal Injury Reports, 2010–2019, for National, Regional, and States. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html
Fowler, K. A., Dahlberg, L. L., Haileyesus, T., Gutierrez, C., & Bacon, S. (2017). Childhood firearm injuries in the United States. Pediatrics, 140(1), e20163486.
Salhi, C., Azrael, D., & Miller, M. (2021). Parent and adolescent reports of adolescent access to household firearms in the United States. JAMA Network Open, 4(3), e210989.
Cavanagh, J. T., Carson, A. J., Sharpe, M., & Lawrie, S. M. (2003). Psychological autopsy studies of suicide: a systematic review. Psychological Medicine, 33(3), 395–405.
Mohler, B., & Earls, F. (2001). Trends in adolescent suicide: Misclassification bias? American Journal of Public Health, 91(1), 150
Wilcox, H. C., Kellam, S. G., Brown, C. H., Poduska, J. M., Ialongo, N. S., Wang, W., & Anthony, J. C. (2008). The impact of two universal randomized first-and second-grade classroom interventions on young adult suicide ideation and attempts. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 95 (Suppl 1), S60–S73
Kellam, S. G., Mackenzie, A. C., Brown, C. H., Poduska, J. M., Wang, W., Petras, H., et al. (2011). The good behavior game and the future of prevention and treatment. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 6(1), 73–85
Schilling, E. A., Aseltine, R. H., & James, A. (2016). The SOS suicide prevention program: Further evidence of efficacy and effectiveness. Prevention Science, 17(2), 157–166.
Schilling, E. A., Lawless, M., Buchanan, L., & Aseltine, R. H., Jr. (2014). “Signs of Suicide” shows promise as a middle school suicide prevention program. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 44(6), 653–667
Price, J. H., & Khubchandani, J. (2021). Firearm suicides in the elderly: A narrative review and call for action. Journal of Community Health, 46, 1050–1058
Price, J. H., & Khubchandani, J. (2017). Latina adolescents health risk behaviors and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts: Results from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2001–2013. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19(3), 533–542.
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflicts of interests to declare.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Price, J.H., Khubchandani, J. Childhood Suicide Trends in the United States, 2010–2019. J Community Health 47, 232–236 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-01040-w
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-021-01040-w