Epidemiology of Pre-Adolescent Hospitalizations for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in the U.S.
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9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Laura Prichett, PhD, MHS
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) and among children and pre-adolescents (ages 6-12 years) are increasing at alarming rates in the United States, with differences in trends by race, ethnicity, and sex. Little is known about non-fatal STBs in the group. We used nationally representative emergency department and inpatient data to explore this issue in depth. We found that the most common reason for pre-adolescent STB-related hospital encounters was suicidal ideation (78.6%), followed by intentional overdose (16.8%). The highest rates of STB-related encounters occurred among American Indian/Alaska Native females, followed by White females, Black females and Hispanic females.