UNC study reveals alarming suicide risks among Black middle schoolers

A new study is calling attention to the mental health crisis in youth and the need for more resources.

The Factors Associated with Suicide Risk Behavior Outcomes Among Black Middle School Adolescents study by UNC researchers looked at data extracted from the 2019 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Study.

The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Study lead Sonyia Richardson said the results highlighted the need for ‘informed cultural approaches to suicide screening and prevention efforts.’

“The highlights of our findings include 28% of Black middle school students nationally have reported suicidal thoughts or behaviors, which means they’re thinking about suicide, they’re either planning for suicide and/or they’ve attempted suicide,” said Richardson.

The data included information from 7,643 self-identifying Black youth.

It found 1-in-4 Black middle school students had thoughts of suicide, 1-in-6 Black middle schoolers made plans to take their own lives, and 1-in-10 Black middle schoolers made a suicide attempt.

“There are several driving factors behind the increase in suicide rates in Black youth,” Richardson said. “It includes bullying, cyberbullying, anxiety, mental health issues, discrimination and racism.”

Richardson continued, “It’s partially that perhaps they are feeling unseen or, when they are seen, they’re being disciplined inappropriately and maybe disproportionately as well. They’re trying to figure out ‘How do I survive in these environments where I’m sometimes not welcome, sometimes I’m criminalized, and often times I’m not humanized as a person?”

While other studies have looked at mental health among youth as a whole, few have examined the specific impact on Black children.

“Among Black youth, middle school students are highly at risk and it’s not just our middle school students but also our elementary kids. For the first time ever, elementary kids surpassed white kids as it related to suicide, so we’re really having to think about suicide prevention efforts at the younger age, which is why this study focused on middle school,” said Richardson.

Latishea McAuley, a mother who became heavily involved in suicide prevention efforts after losing her daughter in 2020, said she was disheartened to learn of the alarming findings.

“Sierra was fun, a jokester and hardworking,” the mother recalled.

McAuley said her daughter had been diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder in the years leading up to her death.

She said her daughter stopped taking medication in the months before taking her own life. She now is warning other parents to pay close attention to warning signs in their child’s behavior.

“I noticed changes with her behavior, her attitude, the way she dressed, the kind of music she listened to, the certain people she hung out with,” McAuley stated.

The mom warned other parents that changes can happen quickly and to intervene before it’s too late.

“On May 31st, she took her graduation pictures. On June 9th, she graduated high school, and on June 15th, she committed suicide,” McAuley said. “Reach out to somebody. Try to get some help. Don’t wait until it’s too late and until you have to make a decision whether to keep your child on life support or let them go.”

Richardson shared research has shown a suicide thought to becoming an action can occur within 5 minutes, emphasizing the need for parental involvement.

“Really pay attention to your children,” Richardson said. “When you notice those changes, tap in and ask some questions. You can talk about suicide, and you can talk about have they thought about taking their lives and not being here anymore.”

The social worker said isolation, increased anxiety, concerns over school performance or friend groups, and changes in eating habits or appetite all can be indicators that your child is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Richardson noted it’s also critical to remove access to lethal means, such as weapons, pills and alcohol, to prevent children from having a way to act on their thoughts.

“It’s important and imperative parents’ safety-proof their homes,” said Richardson. “Put away those weapons and lock them up if you have them in your homes. Put away those pills. Just make your home as safe as possible.”

McAuley added more resources are needed in schools to reach students, as well as safe and free community spaces and programs.

“It makes me feel depressed because there’s nothing for the youth, the young children to do here. You have to pay for everything,” said McAuley. “There should be other resources at school, not just guidance counselors, not just teachers, not just friends.  There should be other resources at school to help children cope with what they’re dealing with at home or social media.”

McAuley described the emotional journey in the years since losing her daughter as “a rollercoaster.” She now hosts an annual cookout in Sierra’s memory to raise awareness of mental health crises and inform the community of available resources.

Richardson shared more efforts are also being launched at the statewide level to reach even more students in need.

“We’re actually implementing the first ever North Carolina Black Youth Suicide Prevention Plan which will be implemented and released to the public in a couple of weeks,” said Richardson.

Richardson shared North Carolina was selected by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to participate in the Black Youth Suicide Prevention Policy Institute, aimed are reducing youth suicide nationwide.

“We’re launching a North Carolina Black Youth Wellness Advisory Board. We were seeking 20 young adults ages 18-24 in the state,” Richardson shared.

So far, the group has received 126 applications from youth seeking to help spark change.

“Our young adults are hungry for addressing suicide and addressing mental health wellness in our state. These young adults are coming from HBCUs and PWIs (predominantly white institutions), as well as community colleges, and some decided to not go to college and they’re working,” said Richardson. “They all have their own personal story. They have their lived experience, and they’re committed at a statewide effort to addressing these issues and really being champions for this cause.”

The researcher said advisory board leaders are hopeful this might be a model for the nation.

“Our hope is this blueprint and this model we’re using can become a model for decreasing suicide among native populations, LGBTQ populations and Latino populations,” Richardson said. “The hope is we’re able to impact suicide rates across the nation, particularly with diverse groups who have often been overlooked.”

Additional details about the board will be announced in the coming weeks.

Those experiencing thoughts of self-harm are strongly encouraged to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free. Individuals can call, text or chat online with trained bilingual crisis counselors 24/7.