Suicide among Black Children: An Integrated Model of the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide and Intersectionality Theory for Researchers and Clinicians

Abstract

Recently, research has reported that the rates of suicide among Black children between the ages of 5 to 12-years-old are increasing as they are now more likely to commit suicide than White children. Yet, there are very few, if any, frameworks being used by researchers to explain the risks of suicide among Black children. Suicide research has overwhelmingly been focused on White youth thus leaving a critical gap in suicide research. This conceptual paper provides an integrated framework using the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide and Intersectionality theory, as a guide for researchers, clinicians, and practitioners to incorporate culturally appropriate techniques in their work as a way to prevent suicide among Black children. This framework highlights racial discrimination, mental health, socioeconomic status, and sexual/gender minority status to be the most preeminent, yet understudied factors leading to suicide risk among Black children in the United States.

Structural indicators of suicide: an exploration of state-level risk factors among Black and White people in the United States, 2015–2019

“…Furthermore, research has indicated that communities that have heavy police presence and arrest rates are more likely to have high crime rates and repeated exposure to trauma (Lardier et al , 2021). These events leave residents of those communities experiencing poor mental health symptoms, feelings of hopelessness and engagement in negative health-risk behaviors (Opara et al , 2020), which are all risk factors for suicide and suicide ideation.…”

“…Through this lens, future research is necessary to better define and understand the issue of racial disparities in suicide. Such research should: examine the multi-level and longitudinal effects of racism on suicidality (Jones, 2000); use and develop relevant theoretical frameworks such as intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989) and socio-ecological theory (Cramer and Kapusta, 2017) to holistically examine risk and prevention (Opara et al , 2020); and engage communities themselves in the design, execution and analysis of research to more authentically represent their voices and experiences. …”

“…use and develop relevant theoretical frameworks such as intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989) and socio-ecological theory (Cramer and Kapusta, 2017) to holistically examine risk and prevention (Opara et al , 2020); and…”

Advances in Research on Adolescent Suicide and a High Priority Agenda for Future Research

“…Given that mental health services are often inaccessible, limited, or unavailable in predominantly African American neighborhoods (Barksdale, Azur, & Leaf, 2010), future STB prevention efforts would need to address this disparity, while also addressing mental health stigma that may be heightened in African American communities (Amutah-Onukagha et al, 2018). To this end, researchers have advocated for strengths-based, culturally relevant research that works with community partners to promote resilience, racial empowerment, and access to services in order to reduce STB risk among African American adolescents (Merchant, Kramer, Joe, Venkataraman, & King, 2009;Opara et al, 2020).…”

Editorial: New insights into self‐harm among children and young people – renewed links with inequality, new opportunities for recognition and new treatment option

“…In relation to ethnicity, the overrepresentation of Black children in the preadolescent group study is consistent with the finding in the United States that although suicides decreased among White children aged 5 to 11 years from 2008 to 2012, the rates increased among Black children of same age range (Bridge et al., 2018). This racial disparity in suicide rates may partly be linked to difficulties with help seeking among children of Black ethnicity (Opara et al., 2020). These findings add to a recent call for CAMHS to recognise CYP of Black ethnicity as a particularly vulnerable group (Ayodeji et al., 2021).…”