kidsdata advisory
The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health | June 4, 2015
Survey: One in five 9th graders in CA considered suicide
The percentage of students in California public schools who reported suicidal ideation within the past year is disturbing—nearly 1 in every 5 students in grades 9, 11, and non-traditional classes, according to the 2011-13 results of a statewide survey.
While higher percentages of female students reported contemplating suicide (22%), verses male students (14%), substantially more males die from suicide. Of the 452 young people ages 15-24 in California who were known to have committed suicide in 2013, nearly 80% were male. When divided by race, youth suicides were proportionate to the overall racial makeup of the state, with the exception of white youth, who make up 27% of the state’s population but 42% of youth suicides, and Hispanic/Latino youth, who make up 52% of the state’s population but 36% of youth suicides.
In 2013, suicide was the nation’s second leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 15-24. Between 2011-2013, California’s youth suicide rate was 7.7 per 100,000 youth ages 15-24, lower than the national figure of 11.1 per 100,000 during the same period, but stubbornly high for a preventable public health problem.
Read how the Family Is the first place to learn about emotional intelligence. Our children need us to become skilled in understanding our own emotions and in being able to listen to them and provide a safe environment for the expression of their fears and doubts. Read my article about this and many more about emotions on my website.
Cynthia Klein, bridges2understa.wpstagecoach.com, 650.679.8138
Go to KidsData.org to read the articles below and other important information.
Mental Health and Suicidality Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Sexual Minority Youths, 7/2014, Williams Institute, Bostwick, W. B., et al.
Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools, 6/2012, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Suicide Trends Among Persons Aged 10-24 Years – United States, 1994-2012, 3/2015, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Transitioning to Adulthood: The Role of Adolescent Depression and Suicidal Ideation, 11/2014, Child Trends, Terzian, M., et al.
