Black people ages 10-24 saw a 36.6% increase in suicide rates from 2018-’21, according to a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention, the AAP and its partners recommend screening all youths ages 12 years and older for suicide risk and screening those 8-11 years when clinically indicated. “Universal screening is an important way to help all patients feel less alone with suicidal thoughts. Otherwise, they may pass through healthcare settings undetected,” according to the blueprint, which also says universal screening helps promote equity.
