Suicide Risk Screening for Youth with Developmental Disabilities in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Developmental Disabilities Research
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Youth with developmental disabilities (DD) exhibit elevated suicide risk.
• Limited clinical guidance for suicide prevention in DD populations contributes to care disparities.
• Standard suicide risk screening practices may not adequately address the needs of youth with DD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate disparities in suicide risk screening rates for youth with and without DD in pediatric emergency departments (EDs).
• To identify demographic, visit, and clinical factors associated with differences in screening rates among youth with and without DD.
• To inform clinical practice and future research on suicide prevention for vulnerable youth populations.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of suicide risk screening rates in two pediatric EDs.
• Utilized data from a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded initiative.
• Compared demographic, visit, and clinical characteristics between youth with and without DD.

Main Results:

• Significant disparities were identified in the completion of suicide risk screenings for youth with DD in standard care.
• Few demographic, visit, or clinical differences were found between groups that could explain the screening disparities.
• The study highlights a gap in the consistent application of suicide risk screening for youth with DD.

Conclusions:

• Standard care in pediatric EDs shows disparities in suicide risk screening for youth with developmental disabilities.
• The reasons for these disparities are not readily explained by observable patient or visit characteristics.
• Addressing these screening gaps is crucial for improving mental health outcomes and preventing suicide in youth with DD.