Suicide Rates in US Preteens: Daily Dose

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On August 13, 2024, we reported on findings from a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine that examined the characteristics and trends in suicide rates among US preteens aged 8 to 12 years.

The study

Researchers used 2001 to 2022 national mortality data from the Web-based Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) where suicide was listed as the underlying cause of death. They analyzed cases by sex, race and ethnicity, suicide method, metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and region.

The findings

Overall, the results showed that 2241 preteens died by suicide from 2001 to 2022, among whom 31.9% were girls and 68.1% were boys. In addition, 68.3% were White, 24.5% were Black, 18.85 were Hispanic, and 7.2% were American Indian or Alaska Native.

Following a downward trend between 2001 and 2007, (annual percent change [APC] -4.34, 95% CI -28.88 to 4.65), rates significantly increased by 8.19% (95% CI 6.25 – 16.68) annually from 2008 to 2022. These data corresponded to a significant increase in overall suicide rates between those 2 periods, from 3.34 to 5.71 per every 1 million persons (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.71, 95% CI 1.54-1.89).

Investigators noted that the rates of suicide increased significantly among all subgroups studied between 2001-2007 and 2008-2022, with the greatest increases among girls (IRR 3.32%, CI 2.66-4.15); Native American or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander preteens (IRR 1.99, 95% CI 1.28-3.09); and Hispanic preteens (IRR 2.06, 95% CI 1.61-2.65). Although Hispanic preteens had the highest rate increase between those periods, investigators found that the rate of suicide remained highest among Black preteens from both 2001 to 2007 (4.94 per 1 million persons) and 2008 to 2022 (8.5 per 1 million persons).

Authors' comment

"These findings highlight a need to better understand suicide risk among racial and ethnic subgroups, including multiracial individuals who comprise the fastest-growing racial group in the US."

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