Youth Suicide Risk and Preventive Interventions: A Review of the Past 10 Years

Author: Gould, Madelyn S. / Greenberg, Ted / Velting, Drew M. / Shaffer, David
Publication: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Topics: Age Group Prevention Suicide
Keywords: antidepressants lethal-means restriction prevention strategy systematic review
Bibliographic information +

The authors reviewed research on youth suicide published between 1993 and 2002 using a systematic search of four databases (PsycINFO, Medline, ERIC and Education Full Text) and focused on epidemiology, risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatment protocols. They identified a large decrease in the youth suicide rate and suggested that the increase in antidepressants being prescribed for adolescents during this period may be responsible. They noted that prevention strategies, such as school-based skills training for students, screening for at-risk youths, education of primary care physicians, media education, and lethal-means restriction, need to be evaluated rigorously.