Suicidal behavior among urban, African American young adults.
The objectives of the present study were four-fold. First, to determine the lifetime, last year, and 6-month prevalence and demographic correlates of suicidal behavior in a defined population of urban, African American young adults. Second, to determine the degree of mental health service utilization among attempters. Third, to study the comorbidity between mental disorders and suicidal behavior, along with the variation in the numbers and types of psychiatric disorders associated with attempts versus ideation only. Fourth, to examine gender differences in the psychiatric diagnoses associated with attempts and ideation. Data relevant to each of these objectives were gathered through structured interviews of 1,157 economically disadvantaged, African American young adults. Lifetime, last year, and 6-month prevalence rates for attempts were 5.3%, 1.2%, and 0.4%, respectively, whereas the lifetime and 6-month prevalence of ideation were 14% and 1.9%, respectively. Approximately two thirds of those who reported lifetime ideation, and a similar proportion of those who reported lifetime attempts, had a history of at least one lifetime psychiatric disorder. There were no gender differences in terms of the degree of risk for suicidal behavior (ideation or attempts) associated with any of the comorbid psychiatric diagnoses assessed. Despite the severity of most attempts, few attempters received mental health services in their lifetime or at the time of their most recent attempt.
Ialongo
Nicholas
N
Department of Mental Hygiene, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. nialongo@jhsph.edu
McCreary
Beth K
BK
Pearson
Jane L
JL
Koenig
Amy L
AL
Wagner
Barry M
BM
Schmidt
Norman B
NB
Poduska
Jeanne
J
Kellam
Sheppard G
SG
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population