Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021

Abstract

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among high school-aged youths aged 14–18 years. The 2021 suicide rate for this age group was 9.0 per 100,000 population. Updating a previous analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey during 2009–2019, this report uses 2019 and 2021 data to examine high school students’ reports of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Prevalence estimates are reported by grade, race and ethnicity, sexual identity, and sex of sexual contacts. Unadjusted logistic regression models were used to calculate prevalence differences comparing 2019 to 2021 and prevalence ratios comparing suicidal behavior between subgroups across demographic characteristics to a referent group. From 2019 to 2021, female students had an increased prevalence of seriously considered attempting suicide (from 24.1% to 30%), an increase in making a suicide plan (from 19.9% to 23.6%), and an increase in suicide attempts (from 11.0% to 13.3%). In addition, from 2019 to 2021, Black or African American (Black), Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic), and White female students had an increased prevalence of seriously considered attempting suicide. In 2021, Black female students had an increased prevalence of suicide attempts and Hispanic female students had an increased prevalence of suicide attempts that required medical treatment compared with White female students. Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors remained stable overall for male students from 2019 to 2021. A comprehensive approach to suicide prevention with a focus on health equity is needed to address these disparities and reduce prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors for all youths. School and community-based strategies include creating safe and supportive environments, promoting connectedness, teaching coping and problem solving, and gatekeeper training.

Overview and Methods for the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System — United States, 2021

“…In addition to new questions, prevalence and patterns in health behaviors identified in other reports on longstanding YRBS topics also reinforced the need for specific, tailored public health interventions and resources to improve student health. The report on suicidal thoughts and behaviors indicated an approximately 6 percentage point increase (24% to 30%) from 2019 to 2021 in the prevalence of female students overall who reported seriously considering attempting suicide ( 21 ). From 2019 to 2021, Black, White, and Hispanic female students experienced increases in prevalence of reporting seriously considering attempting suicide ( 21 ).…”

“…The report on suicidal thoughts and behaviors indicated an approximately 6 percentage point increase (24% to 30%) from 2019 to 2021 in the prevalence of female students overall who reported seriously considering attempting suicide ( 21 ). From 2019 to 2021, Black, White, and Hispanic female students experienced increases in prevalence of reporting seriously considering attempting suicide ( 21 ). Other findings indicated a 3.7 percentage point decrease from 2019 to 2021 in the prevalence of HIV testing and a 5 percentage point decrease in the prevalence of testing for sexually transmitted infections among sexually active students ( 22 ).…”

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth seeking mental health treatment in Texas: Youth Depression and Suicide Network research registry

“…Deaths by suicide have been increasing in youth over the past decade, as have rates of suicide attempt and ideation in this age group (CDC, 2021;Gaylor et al, 2023;Ivey-Stephenson et al, 2019;Ruch et al, 2019;Sheridan et al, 2022). Suicide death rates increase with age throughout adolescence and into young adulthood; rates of death in adolescent males are three times higher than in females (Hughes et al, 2023).…”

“…Nationally representative studies of suicidal ideation and attempt have shown increases for adolescents across time (Gaylor et al, 2023;Nock et al, 2013;Twenge et al, 2019). The most recent report from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a cross-sectional, school-based survey of grades 9-12 conducted biennially, noted that the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behavior in males remained stable across the 2019 and 2021 surveys, with 14.3% reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months, 11.6% reporting making a suicide plan, 6.6% reporting attempting suicide, and 1.7% reporting a suicide attempt that required medical attention (Gaylor et al, 2023).…”

“…Nationally representative studies of suicidal ideation and attempt have shown increases for adolescents across time (Gaylor et al, 2023;Nock et al, 2013;Twenge et al, 2019). The most recent report from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a cross-sectional, school-based survey of grades 9-12 conducted biennially, noted that the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behavior in males remained stable across the 2019 and 2021 surveys, with 14.3% reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months, 11.6% reporting making a suicide plan, 6.6% reporting attempting suicide, and 1.7% reporting a suicide attempt that required medical attention (Gaylor et al, 2023). However, prevalence rates for females increased in each category, with the exception of the last, with 30.0% reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months, 23.6% reporting making a suicide plan, 13.3% reporting attempting suicide, and 3.9% reporting a suicide attempt that required medical attention (Gaylor et al, 2023).…”