Do suicidal thoughts and behavior persist following juvenile justice involvement?

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Criminology
• Public Health

Background:

• Suicidal ideation and behavior are significant concerns among adolescents.
• The juvenile justice system encounters youth with elevated mental health needs, including suicidality.
• Early intervention is critical for justice-involved youth to mitigate risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine suicidal ideation and behavior in adolescents 3 months after their initial juvenile justice diversion appointment.
• To assess changes in suicidal ideation from baseline to the 3-month follow-up.
• To explore the relationship between suicidal ideation and treatment motivation/engagement.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 99 adolescents (ages 12-18) and their caregivers were recruited.
• Participants completed questionnaires assessing suicidal ideation/behavior, psychiatric symptoms, and treatment engagement.
• Eligibility required endorsing at least two suicide items on the MAYSI-2 mental health screener.

Main Results:

• Over half of youth (55.5%) continued to screen positive for suicidal ideation at 3 months post-appointment.
• Mean scores for suicidal ideation decreased from baseline to 3 months, indicating a reduction but not elimination of risk.
• No significant differences were found in treatment motivation or engagement based on 3-month suicidal ideation status.

Conclusions:

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors frequently persist beyond initial contact with the juvenile justice system.
• Screening and referral alone may be insufficient; targeted suicide prevention interventions are necessary.
• Early and ongoing interventions are vital for justice-involved youth experiencing suicidal ideation.