Breaking the Silence: An Epidemiological Report on Asian American and Pacific Islander Youth Mental Health and Suicide (1999-2021).

BACKGROUND: Limited studies have focused on recent trends in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth suicide. This study aimed to evaluate epidemiological trends in AAPI youth suicide and reports of depressive symptoms among Asian and Pacific Islander youth in the USA. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) and reports of depressive symptoms from the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance System (YRBSS). Data from 1999 to 2021 were analyzed for suicide rates and methods used among AAPI youth aged 5-24 years. YRBSS data from 1991 to 2021 were analyzed for depressive symptoms reported by Asian American (AA) 9th-12th graders. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2021, 4747 AAPI youth died by suicide in the USA. Rates of suicide doubled from 3.6 to 7.1 per 100,000 during 1999-2021, with an increasing trend observed from 2014 onwards. The most common methods of suicide deaths in this population were suffocation, firearms and poisoning. Rates of suicide were higher among AA males than females, although more AA females reported depressive symptoms, including suicidal planning and attempts. CONCLUSION: This study shows a concerning increase in suicide rates among AAPI youth over 1999-2021. Suffocation, firearms and poisoning were the most common methods used. While more AAPI males died by suicide, AA females reported higher rates of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies and clinical interventions for this vulnerable population. The study also emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health stigma to improve reporting and support for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth.

Rising Rates of Adolescent Firearm Suicide and the Clinician's Role in Addressing Firearms.

Suicide is a leading cause of death of 10- to 19-year-olds in the United States.1 Firearms were used in 48% of suicides of 15- to 19-year-olds and in 38% of suicides of 10- to 14-year-olds in 2020.1 During the COVID-19 pandemic, gun sales surged, leading to increases in household firearm ownership,2 a known risk factor for suicide.3 There are many ways in which adolescents access firearms. Most commonly, adolescents encounter firearms owned by an adult in the home. One study showed that one-third of adolescents reported they could access a loaded household gun in less than 5 minutes, even in households where parents did not believe that their child could access a household firearm.4 Another study found that 39% of parents who reported that their children did not know the location of household guns, and 22% of parents who reported that their children had never handled a household gun, were contradicted by their children's reports.5Adolescents can legally own rifles or shotguns if gifted to them by a parent. Federal law (18 U.S.C. 922) prohibits possession of handguns by minors less than 18 years of age; however, there are no federal minimum age requirements for possession of long guns (shotguns, rifles).Social media contributes to adolescent gun culture. TikTok users have created and viewed popular videos about guns,6 including videos with instructions on building guns from hardware store materials or via 3D printing. Adolescents can purchase kits online to assemble fully functional handguns. No federal restrictions or background check requirements exist on who can purchase "ghost gun" kits.7Child and adolescent mental health providers often assess suicide risk with a screening tool such as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, with a clinical assessment, or with a combination of both. Either way, the assessment should include asking about access to lethal means, including firearms. Many adolescent suicide attempts are impulsive; completed suicides may be prevented if access to firearms is limited during periods of crisis.8 However, many clinicians do not talk about firearms with patients even when clinically relevant.9 This may be due to assumptions that adolescents do not have access to firearms, or to lack of comfort with this topic. One study surveying medical residents reported the most common barriers to providing firearm counseling were not knowing how to ask about firearm access and not knowing how to respond to patients' answers about firearm access.9Once identifying an adolescent at risk for suicide, clinicians can intervene by providing evidenced-based interventions tailored to each situation. In this article, we present steps adapted from the BulletPoints Project for clinicians to intervene with adolescents at risk for firearm suicide.

Adolescent Suicide-Understanding Unique Risks and Opportunities for Trauma Centers to Recognize, Intervene, and Prevent a Leading Cause of Death.

Purpose of Review: This provides up-to-date epidemiology of adolescent suicide and risk factors for suicide and highlights the overlap of risks for suicide and injury. It reviews signs and symptoms, and the up-to-date evidence on screening for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide, substance abuse, and lethal means, and offers strategies of implementation in trauma centers. Recent Findings: The incidence of adolescent suicide has continued to rise in the USA to 6.5 per 100,000, with notable racial disparities. The risk factors are complex, but many pre-existing risk factors and sequela after injury such as exposures to violence, suicidal behaviors, substance abuse, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and specific injuries including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury have further emerged as risks. Studies show rates of suicidality as high as 30% in the acute care setting. There are short screening instruments that can be used to universally screen for depression and suicidality in adolescent trauma patients. Step-up models of care for PTSD are promising to increase screening and services after injury. Lethal means counseling, secure firearm storage practices, and firearm safety policies can reduce the risk of suicide. Summary: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in US adolescents, and trauma patients have significant risk factors for mental illness and suicidality before and after injury. Trauma centers should strongly consider screening adolescents, establish strategies for mental health support and referrals, and provide lethal means counseling to help prevent suicide.

Association of Changes in Missouri Firearm Laws With Adolescent and Young Adult Suicides by Firearms.

Importance: Suicide by firearm is a major cause of mortality in young Missouri residents. Changes in statewide firearm policy may have contributed to changes in suicide rates. Objective: To evaluate if changes in Missouri permit-to-purchase (PTP) and concealed carry firearm laws were associated with changes in rates of suicide by firearms in young Missouri residents. Design, Settings, and Participants: This cross-sectional study examined rates of suicide by firearm in Missouri among adolescents (ages 14-18 years) and young adults (ages 19-24 years) from January 1999 to December 2018, following changes to state PTP and concealed carry law, in comparison with a donor state pool with existing firearm laws (13 states in PTP pool; 42 states in concealed carry pool) that did not make changes during this period. This study used a quasiexperimental, synthetic control design at the state level that defined Missouri as the treated state and treatment as changes in firearm laws. Exposures: Legislative changes to Missouri's PTP and concealed carry firearm laws. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age-adjusted annual rates of firearm-related suicide mortality per 100 000 people for adolescents (aged 14-18 years) and young adults (aged 19-24 years). Results: Repeal of the PTP law was associated with a 21.8% increase in firearm suicide rates in young adults aged 19 to 24 years in Missouri. Lowering the minimum age of concealed carry to 19 years in Missouri was associated with a 32.0% increase in firearm suicide rates and a 29.7% increase in nonfirearm suicide rates in adolescents aged 14 to 18 years, and a 7.2% increase in firearm suicide rates in young adults aged 19 to 24 years. Conclusions and Relevance: Increases in rates of suicide by firearms in adolescents and young adults were seen following repeal of Missouri's PTP law and lowering of the minimum age for concealed carry in 2014. Changes in Missouri's firearm policies may be an important contributor to rates of suicide by firearm in young Missouri residents.

Chitosan Nanoparticles of Gamma-Oryzanol: Formulation, Optimization, and In vivo Evaluation of Anti-hyperlipidemic Activity.

The elevated blood levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins result in hyperlipidemia. The available expensive prophylactic treatments are kindred with severe side effects. Therefore, we fabricated the polymeric nanoparticles of gamma-oryzanol to achieving the improved efficacy of drug. The nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method and optimized using 23 full factorial design taking drug/polymer ratio (X1), polymer/cross linking agent ratio (X2), and stirring speed (X3) as independent variables. The average particle size, percentage entrapment efficiency, and in vitro drug release at 2, 12, and 24 h were selected as response parameters. The factorial batches were statistically analyzed and optimized. The optimized nanoparticles were characterized with respect to particle size (141 nm) and zeta potential (+ 6.45 mV). Results obtained with the prepared and characterized formulation showed 83% mucoadhesion towards the intestinal mucosa. The in vitro findings were complemented well by in vivo anti-hyperlipidemic activity of developed formulation carried out in Swiss albino mouse model. The in vivo studies showed improved atherogenic index, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase levels in poloxamer-407-induced hyperlipidemic animals when treated with oryzanol and gamma-oryzanol nanoformulation. Based on our findings, we believe that chitosan-mediated delivery of gamma-oryzanol nanoparticles might prove better in terms of anti-hyperlipidemic therapeutics.