Adverse Childhood Experiences and Lifetime Suicide Attempts among High-Risk Latine Individuals Entering Behavioral...

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and lifetime suicide attempts among high-risk Latine remains underexplored. This study examined the understudied intersections of ACEs, Latine ethnicity, and lifetime suicide attempts among high-risk individuals entering behavioral health treatment. This secondary analysis involved 299 Latine adults entering integrated behavioral health treatment. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess ACE scores and lifetime suicide attempts, controlling for social drivers of health such as housing, employment, and education. Key findings show that 28% of the sample reported lifetime suicide attempts. Multivariate analysis found that for every unit increase in ACE scores, the odds of lifetime suicide attempts increased by 21% (OR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.07, 1.38]). Additionally, those who reported being unemployed were 2.39 times more likely to have attempted suicide in their lifetime compared to their counterparts, and those who self-identified as Puerto Rican were 2.04 times more likely to report a lifetime suicide attempt. This study underscores the importance of screening for ACEs and providing services such as employment training, trauma-informed care, and suicide prevention services to Latine individuals, especially those who identify as Puerto Rican. Additional research needs to be conducted on the effects of colonization on the health and mental health of individuals of Puerto Rican descent.