Performance of Machine Learning Suicide Risk Models in an American Indian Population

Few suicide risk identification tools have been developed specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, even though these populations face the starkest suicide-related inequities.

To examine the accuracy of existing machine learning models in a majority American Indian population.

This prognostic study used secondary data analysis of electronic health record data collected from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021. Existing models from the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN) and Vanderbilt University (VU) were fitted. Models were compared with an augmented screening indicator that included any previous attempt, recent suicidal ideation, or a recent positive suicide risk screen result. The comparison was based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). The study was performed in partnership with a tribe and local Indian Health Service (IHS) in the Southwest. All patients were 18 years or older with at least 1 encounter with the IHS unit during the study period. Data were analyzed between October 6, 2022, and July 29, 2024.

Suicide attempts or deaths within 90 days.

Model performance was compared based on the ability to distinguish between those with a suicide attempt or death within 90 days of their last IHS visit with those without this outcome.

Of 16 835 patients (mean [SD] age, 40.0 [17.5] years; 8660 [51.4%] female; 14 251 [84.7%] American Indian), 324 patients (1.9%) had at least 1 suicide attempt, and 37 patients (0.2%) died by suicide. The MHRN model had an AUROC value of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77-0.85) for 90-day suicide attempts, whereas the VU model had an AUROC value of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.64-0.72), and the augmented screening indicator had an AUROC value of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.63-0.70). Calibration was poor for both models but improved after recalibration.

This prognostic study found that existing risk identification models for suicide prevention held promise when applied to new contexts and performed better than relying on a combined indictor of a positive suicide risk screen result, history of attempt, and recent suicidal ideation.