A multiple-methods exploration of the "school-to-suicide pipeline"

Suicide among Black youth is a public health concern. "Being Black" is not a risk factor for suicide; rather, sociocultural factors and social determinants of health influence suicidal behavior among Black youth. Factors related to the school environment are critical in understanding and preventing this loss of life. The purpose of this multiple-method study was to examine the historical prevalence of school interventions among Black students who went on to die by suicide in our study setting and assess the availability of mental health resources and support available to school personnel to support Black students.

We gathered school records from all county residents who died by suicide during the ten years from 2013 through 2022. We also conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with school district psychologists and social workers.

A total of 293 suicide decedents were included, most of whom were Black/African American. School issues were a contributing factor to suicide for several decedents. Four qualitative themes were developed, highlighting the impact of school-based factors, and particularly exclusionary discipline, on the mental health of students.

There is an urgent need for trauma-informed, restorative, and non-punitive approaches behavioral issues in school, particularly for minoritized students.