Key Points Question Does the disproportionate increase in suicide rates among female youth indicate a narrowing of the historically large gap between male and female youth in suicide? Findings This cross-sectional study of 85 051 youth suicide deaths found a significant reduction in the gap between male and female rates of suicide among youth aged 10 to 19 in the United States, with the most pronounced narrowing in younger individuals. Female suicide rates by hanging or suffocation are approaching those of male youth, and significant differences by race/ethnicity also exist. Meaning A narrowing gap between male and female youth suicide rates underscores the importance of early suicide prevention efforts that take both sex and developmental level into consideration.

Objective: To estimate the association between the release of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and suicide rates in the United States.Method: Using segmented quasi-Poisson regression and Holt-Winters forecasting models, we assessed monthly rates of suicide among individuals aged 10 to 64 years grouped into 3 age categories (

No abstract

IMPORTANCE Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 11 years, with rates increasing during the past decade. A better understanding of factors associated with childhood suicide can inform developmentally appropriate prevention strategies. OBJECTIVE To examine characteristics and precipitating circumstances of childhood suicide. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This qualitative study examined restricted-use data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) regarding child suicide decedents aged 5 to 11 years in the US from 2013 to 2017. The NVDRS is a state-based surveillance system that collects data on suicide and violent deaths in 50 states, with restricted-use data available from 37 states. Details and context related to suicide deaths were identified through a content analysis of case narratives from coroner or medical examiner and law enforcement reports associated with each incident. EXPOSURES Characteristics and precipitating circumstances associated with suicide cited in the coroner, medical examiner, and law enforcement case narratives. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Suicide incidence and risk factors for suicide including mental health, prior suicidal behavior, trauma, and peer, school, or family-related problems. RESULTS Analyses included 134 child decedents (101 [75.4%] males; 79 [59.0%] White individuals; 109 [81.3%] non-Hispanic individuals; mean [SD] age, 10.6 [0.8] years). Most suicides occurred in the child's home (95.5% [n = 128]), and more specifically in the child's bedroom. Suicide by hanging or suffocation (78.4% [n = 105]) was the most frequent method, followed by firearms (18.7%[n = 25]). Details on gun access were noted in 88.0% (n = 22) of suicides by firearm, and in every case, the child obtained a firearm stored unsafely in the home. Findings revealed childhood suicide was associated with numerous risk factors accumulated over time, and suggest a progression toward suicidal behavior, especially for youth with a history of psychopathology and suicidal behavior. An argument between the child and a family member and/or disciplinary action was often a precipitating circumstance of the suicide.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This qualitative study found that childhood suicide was associated with multiple risk factors and commonly preceded by a negative precipitating event.Potential prevention strategies include improvements in suicide risk assessment, family relations, and lethal means restriction, particularly safe firearm storage. Future research examining the myriad aspects of childhood suicide, including racial/ethnic and sex differences, is needed.

Objective: This study examines the psychometric properties of the revised Perceived Social Competence Scale (PSCS), a brief, user-friendly tool used to assess social competence among youth. Method: Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) examined the factor structure and invariance of an enhanced scale (PSCS-II), among a sample of 420 youth. Correlations between PSCS-II and self-reported social skill scores were examined. A longitudinal CFA tested the invariance of the factor structure over time with a different sample of 451 youth. Results: The revised 5-item PSCS-II demonstrated acceptable factorial validity, factorial invariance across time and gender as well as strong predictive validity. Conclusion: The PSCS-II was supported as a strengthened version of the PSCS to measure social competence in social work research and practice.