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Shirley Yen. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Kevin Kuehn. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Katherine Tezanos. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Lauren M. Weinstock. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Joel Solomon. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Anthony Spirito. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Funding: This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health K23 MH06990 (Shirley Yen [PI]).
Address correspondence to: Shirley Yen, PhD, Brown University, Box G-BH, Providence, RI 02912-G, E-mail: [email protected]
Introduction
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among children, adolescents, and young adults ages 10-24, and the second leading cause of death among adolescents ages 13-17 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2010). Among high school females, 17.4% have reported considering suicide, 13.2% have reported planning suicide, and 8.1% have attempted suicide, whereas among high school males, 10.5% have considered, 8.6% have planned, and 4.6% have attempted suicide. Mirroring the gender disparity observed in adults, adolescent girls attempt suicide at a higher rate than boys, but boys are at greater risk of completing suicide (Andrews and Lewinsohn 1992; Reinherz et al. 1995). A particularly vulnerable population are psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents, especially in the 6 months following discharge (King et al. 1995; Goldston et al. 1999; Prinstein et al. 2008; Yen et al. 2013). Studies estimate that among hospitalized adolescents admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit for suicidality, 7-18% will make a suicide attempt within 6 months (King et al. 1995; Goldston et al. 1999; Prinstein et al. 2008; Yen et al. 2013). Furthermore, these adolescents face increased risk of suicidal behavior in adulthood (Groholt et al. 2006). A multidimensional understanding of the processes that contribute to suicidal and self-injurious behavior in adolescents is needed to circumvent this perpetuating cycle.
Most prevalent theories of suicidal behaviors include a social perspective (see King and Merchant 2008). In Durkheim's influential book...