Youth suicide: An overview

Youth suicide: An overview Professor Deborah Winders Davis from the University of Louisville School of Medicine discusses the prevalence, risk factors, and stigma associated with youth mental health and suicide, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and developing intervention strategies to tackle the critical issues facing young people. Suicide rates for youth and young adults ages 10-24 years in the United States increased 52.2% from 2000 to 2021.(1) However, youth suicide does not just occur in high-income countries. In fact, 73% of suicides worldwide occur in low- and middle-income countries, representing the third highest cause of death in this age group.(2) In addition to deaths, a significant number of children are treated for self-harm, which is a risk factor for subsequent suicide.(2)