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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Amanda L. Botticello, PhD, MPH, Institute for Health, Rutgers University, 30 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, 732-932-8413, abotticello@ifh.rutgers.edu

Adolescent suicide exacts tremendous social costs in terms of loss of life as well as the emotional damage experienced by families and communities. Thus, it is imperative that mental health research focus on understanding the risk factors related to adolescent suicidality. In particular, a better understanding is needed of the role of distal indicators of distress on the continuum of mental health problems that culminates in suicidal behaviors. This study investigates the impact of adolescent psychological distress on the risk for both suicidal ideation and attempts over time. Data are from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative school-based sample of adolescents interviewed in 1994-1995 and reassessed in 1995-1996 (N=12,033). Multilevel logistic regression is used in parallel analyses of each dichotomous outcome to adjust for the nesting of adolescents within school environments. Models examine the influences both depressive symptoms and alcohol misuse measured at two points in time on suicidality, adjusting for prior suicidal behaviors and selected sociodemographic characteristics. Preliminary findings suggest that risk for both ideation and attempts are stable over time, implying that adolescent suicidality is not a transient state. Elevated levels of depressive symptoms significantly increase the odds of suicidality. Similarly, alcohol misuse—particularly heavy drinking—significantly increases the likelihood of suicidal behavior over time. These findings underscore the importance of early intervention when adolescent mental health problems arise and the need for continued vigilance of distressed youth in order to prevent future suicide.

Learning Objectives:

• • Describe the risk for suicidal behaviors—ideation and attempts—in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents.
• • Recognize how prior indicators of psychological distress affect the risk for suicidal behaviors over time.
• • Identify the basic concepts of multilevel modeling and the need to control for the nesting of individuals within groups.
• • Discuss the implications that early intervention for depression and alcohol misuse has for suicide prevention.

Keywords: Adult and Child Mental Health, Suicide

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation