ABSTRACT
Background/Aim: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency departments across the United States have seen an increase in patients seeking care for psychiatric complaints to include suicidal ideation and attempts. A recent national study reported that the suicide rate has decreased since 2018 but this decrease may not be equal across all age groups and ethnicities especially the younger aged. Using mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), we investigated the trends in the suicide death rate among those aged 10-19 by gender, ethnicity and mode of suicide between 2015-2020. Method(s): We identified individuals with intentional self-harm reported on death certificates as a leading cause of death or contributory cause of death from 2015-2020 using ICD-10 codes *U03,X60-X84,Y87.0. Annual percent change was calculated;ANOVA was used to determine differences. Result(s): From 2015 to 2020, overall, there were 16,600 (12,310 males;4,290 females) deaths from suicide among those aged 10-19;average age was 16.6+/- 2.1 males;16.02+/- 2.22 females, 84% of males had some college;77% females had some college;99% were single in both groups. Non-Hispanic whites accounted for over 50% of all suicides followed by Hispanics at >20%. The number of deaths by suicide increased over time for males but decreased for females- both groups' age at death decreased over time. By ethnicity, both non-Hispanic black males and females saw a significant increase in their suicide rates from 10.3% (2015) to 12.3% (2020, P=0.03) males and 11.1% to 13.9% (P=0.05) females. Similar findings were noted for Hispanic males (13.3% to 18.3%, P=0.0001) and females (18.7% to 23.4%, P=0.006) while suicide rates decreased for non-Hispanic whites and Asians. The top three most frequent modes of suicide for females were hanging, strangulation and suffocation (>50%);discharge of firearms (>20%) and intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to drugs and other biological substances (>15%). The largest increase of over 250% was intentional self-poisoning (suicide) by and exposure to other and unspecified solid or liquid substances and their vapors. For males the top three most frequent methods used for suicide were discharge of firearms (>50%);hanging, strangulation and suffocation (>35%) and intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to drugs and other biological substances (>15%) while the largest increase (100%) was the same as for females- intentional self-poisoning (suicide) by and exposure to other and unspecified solid or liquid substances and their vapors. Conclusion(s): Although suicide deaths have been reported to be decreasing, we found among those aged 10-19, suicide rates were increasing for both non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanic males and females but not for whites or Asians. The most vulnerable time may be when this age group starts college suggesting more support is needed for those transitioning from home for the first time. The large increase of 250% for females and 100% for males related to intentional self-poisoning and correlation with exposure and access to drugs and other biological substances requires further investigation as well. This includes evaluating the role of social media platforms particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic in promoting and facilitating access to drugs and biological substances. No, authors do not have interests to disclose Copyright © 2022