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Youth Suicide
Utah has the 12th highest teen suicide rate in the U.S. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Utah teens ages 15-19. On average,
- 22 Utah teens ages 15-19 die from sucide each year.
- Two Utah teens ages 15-19 are treated in the emergency department or hospitalized every day because of suicide attempts.
More teen females attempt suicide than teen males, however, teen males are more likely to die from suicide than females. Poisoning was the most common
method of suicide attempts for teens.
Suffocation was the most common
method of teen suicide.
There are differences in mental
and behavioral health circumstances
as well as life stressors surrounding teen, adult, and
older adult suicides. Teen
males had significantly higher
substance abuse problems, other relatonship
problems, school problems, and
intimate partner
problems compared to adult and older adult males. Teen males also had a significantly higher history
of suicide attempts.
Teen females had significantly
higher school problems and other relationship
problems compared adult and older adult females.
Additional data on teen suicides in Utah can be found in the Teen Suicide in Utah, 2005-2009 fact sheet.
Utah Youth Suicide Study
Utah’s consistently high youth suicide rate prompted the development
of the Utah Youth Suicide Study. Death certificates
provided by the Office of the Medical Examiner andadditional data
from multiple government agencies was collected on 151 Utah youth suicides. Results showed:
- 89% of the suicide decedents were male.
- Referral to Juvenile Court was a risk factor for completed
suicide, with 63% of suicide decedents having had contact with the juvenile courts.
- 54% of the decedents who had contact with juvenile
court had a referral(s) for substance
possession, use, or abuse and 32% had one felony referral.
- 23% had a special education evaluation, primarily for behavioral disorders.
- 35% had either a suspension or
expulsion from school.
- Only 1% of the suicide decednts were In public mental health treatment at the time of death. Research indicates at least one in five youth under age 18
who have been arrested have serious mental health problems. However, mental health services for
youth in juvenile offender facilities are insufficient. Even fewer resources are available for juvenile
offenders involved with probation officers outside juvenile facilities
in Utah.
- Early mental health interventions through the juvenile court system can be a cost-effective way for reaching teens at risk for suicide. Treatment should include both psychiatric care and in-home behavioral intervention.
Prevention Tips
If you or someone you love has thought about or expressed suicidal thoughts, help is available.
- Call for help. Help is available 24 hours a day 7
days a week. Call 1-800-273-TALK.
- Take any threat of suicide seriously.
- Do not leave the person alone.
- Listen to and don’t judge anyone you think may be in trouble.
- Take action. Remove guns or pills to prevent a suicide attempt.
Risk Factors for Suicide
There are many risk factors for teen suicide, including:
- Previous suicide attempt(s)
- History of depresion or mental illness
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Family history of suicide or violence
- Easy access to lethal methods (such as guns or pills)
- Stressful life event or loss
- Relationship or school problems
Media Guidelines for Reporting on Suicides
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