Longitudinal Pathways of Depression and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among LGBTQ Youth of Color: An Integrative Data Analysis

Alberto Valido, PhD
University of Missouri

ABSTRACT:
Recent data from the Trevor Project reveals alarming disparities in mental health outcomes among LGBTQ youth of color, with significantly higher rates of depression and suicide risk compared to their White LGBTQ peers. Despite these documented disparities, there has been limited longitudinal research examining how these outcomes develop throughout adolescence among Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx LGBTQ youth. This presentation will provide an overview of an innovative integrative data analysis combining 19 longitudinal studies to examine developmental trajectories of depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among LGBTQ youth of color. We will discuss the theoretical frameworks guiding this research, including intersectionality and minority stress theory, and will present findings on distinct developmental patterns identified through longitudinal statistical techniques. The presentation will highlight critical periods of elevated risk during adolescence, demographic differences in risk trajectories, and specific depression symptoms that strongly predict high-risk suicide outcomes. We will conclude by discussing implications for early intervention and culturally responsive prevention strategies to address these health disparities. The methodological approaches demonstrated in this research offer new pathways for understanding complex mental health outcomes in underrepresented populations and developing more effective interventions.

Adolescent Suicide Research: Screening, Risk Assessment, and Intervention

Cheryl King, PhD
University of Michigan

ABSTRACT:
Adolescent suicide continues to be an urgent, public health concern. This presentation will discuss selected studies from a research program focused on developing evidence-based strategies for suicide risk screening, suicide risk assessment, and preventive intervention. Findings related to the multi-variable prediction of adolescent suicide attempts, the Computerized Adaptive Screen for Suicidal Youth (CASSY), and the Youth-Nominated Support Team intervention (YST) will be given special emphasis. 

Overlooked Signs of Suicidality in Black Youth: What are we missing?

Michael Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH
New York University

ABSTRACT:
Suicide is preventable. For Blacks, stigma regarding mental health challenges and a common belief that Blacks don’t die by suicide add complexity to the challenge of saving lives. Sadly, the suicide death rate among Black youth has been found to be increasing faster than any other racial or ethic group. Black adolescents are significantly less likely to receive care for depression with pervasive structural inequities, social determinants of health, stigma and mistrust of the healthcare system creating daunting barriers to treatment. What can we do to prevent these deaths? What can schools, funders, family members, health institutions and governmental entities do to provide the necessary investment and training to properly address the mental wellness needs of Black youth? In this presentation, Dr. Lindsey will discuss signs and symptoms of depression, suicide and anxiety in Black children. He will also explore the importance of access to care, as well as preventive measures and policy.

Suicidal behaviors from adolescence through young adulthood: Developmental trajectories and intervention.

David Goldston, PhD
Duke University

ABSTRACT:
This PSMG presentation will provide an overview of a program of research focused on youth and young adult suicidal behavior. From a longitudinal study of youth followed through adulthood, data will be presented regarding proximal psychiatric disorders and developmental changes in psychiatric profiles of youth with suicidal behaviors over time, differing developmental trajectories of risk and their covariates, patterns of escalation, and implicit affective responses associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Building on these findings, the presentation will describe several ongoing and recent intervention development studies and clinical trials for youth at risk for suicide.

Recent trends in suicide and nonfatal suicidal behavior in the US and implications for public health prevention

Deborah Stone, ScD, MSW, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ABSTRACT:
Suicide is a continuing public health concern with rates having increased 33% between 1999 and 2019, with a slight dip in 2019 and another drop in 2020, according to provisional estimates. Further complicating this vexing issue are the added stressors associated with the ongoing and shifting COVID-19 pandemic, as well as ongoing concerns about data quality and potential misclassification of suicides. This presentation will showcase recent trends in suicide in the United States, including data on emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts and other related outcomes (e.g., mental health conditions, suicide ideation) during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to earlier time points. Implications for suicide prevention going forward and a discussion of CDC’s comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, including a focus on populations disproportionately impacted, will round out the session.

To request Dr. Stone’s powerpoint slides, please email psmg@northwestern.edu

Wingman-Connect Program: A Network-Health Suicide and Depression Prevention Program for Air Force Trainees

Peter Wyman, Ph.D.
University of Rochester School of Medicine

Anthony R. Pisani, Ph.D.
University of Rochester School of Medicine

Bryan Yates, BA
University of Rochester School of Medicine

C. Hendricks Brown, Ph.D.
Northwestern University

ABSTRACT:
Suicide has been a leading manner of death for military members in recent years. In this talk, we will describe a Dept of Defense-funded initiative to develop and test a universal prevention program for Airmen in training. The Wingman-Connect Program applies a network health approach to enhance protective group processes in natural organizational units including cohesion and diffusion of healthy norms among members. We report results from a cluster- randomized clinical trial testing impact on airmen through a 6-month follow-up period.