Preventing Suicide Among Black Youth

In youth ages 10 to 19 years of age, suicide is the second leading cause of death

The Congressional Black Caucus reported that “the suicide death rate among Black Youth is increasing faster than any other racial/ethnic group. In 2017, over 3,000 youth died by suicide. Over the past decade, the increase in the suicide death rate for Black youth has seen the rate rising from 2.55 per 100,00 in 2017. Black youth under 13 years are twice as likely to die by suicide when compared by sex. Females make more attempts than males, but males are more successful at suicide because they use guns while females, predominantly use poison.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) has stated that suicide attempts rose by 73% between 1991-2017 for Black adolescence. “Black males, aged 5 to 11 years are more likely to die by suicide, compared to their White peers.”