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Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents with Self-Reported Disabilities
1School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA. moses@wisc.edu.
Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|October 15, 2017
Summary
Youth with disabilities face 3-9 times higher suicide attempt risk. Multiple disabilities triple this risk, indicating disability may be a fundamental cause of suicidal behavior requiring further study.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Psychology
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Adolescent suicide attempts (SA) are a significant public health concern.
- Youth with disabilities are a vulnerable population with potential unique risks for SA.
- Existing research indicates a link between disability and SA, but underlying factors require deeper investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relative risk for suicide attempts (SA) among high-school students with disabilities.
- To assess the disproportionate vulnerability of youth with disabilities to known SA risk factors.
- To determine if disability status independently predicts SA risk beyond other established factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2012 Dane County Youth Assessment Survey in Wisconsin.
- Analyzed relative risk for SA across nine distinct disability classifications.
- Controlled for a comprehensive set of known risk and protective factors for SA.
Main Results:
- Youth in every disability category were 3-9 times more likely to report SA compared to peers.
- Endorsement of multiple disabilities tripled the risk of SA relative to single disability.
- Specific groups, including autism spectrum disorder, hearing, and vision impairments, showed high SA rates.
Conclusions:
- Disability status is uniquely associated with increased risk for SA, independent of other factors.
- Youth with disabilities face disproportionate adversity, contributing to their elevated SA risk.
- Disability may function as a 'fundamental cause' of suicidal behavior, warranting further research.
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