Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among Youth With Sickle Cell Disease Seeking Acute Care

Suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal attempt (SA) rates are rising among youth in the United States; however, research on SI/SA in youth with sickle cell disease (Y-SCD) remains limited. Using the Pediatric Health Information System, we examined the prevalence and demographic factors associated with SI/SA among Y-SCD (10-18 years) seeking acute care between 2015 and 2024. Overall, 358 (3.08%) Y-SCD had ≥ 1 SI/SA encounter and 0.76% of all acute encounters among Y-SCD included a code for SI/SA. Female sex (p < 0.0001) and public insurance (p = 0.0009) were significantly associated with SI/SA. Findings highlight the need for suicide screening in acute care settings for Y-SCD.