Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in African American Adolescents-View Presentation

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Video Summary

LaVaughn Robinson addresses a significant health issue facing African American adolescents—suicide, which is the third leading cause of death for this demographic between ages 15 and 19. Robinson highlights the alarming rise in suicide rates among African American teens (up 33% from 2018 to 2022) compared to a decline among white teens. She emphasizes that these deaths are preventable and underscores the need for early identification and intervention tailored to the unique experiences of African American teens. <br /><br />Robinson discusses factors like racism, community violence, and economic disadvantage, which are not traditionally connected to mental health diagnoses but play crucial roles in suicidal behaviors among African American adolescents. She suggests that traditional mental health interventions might not be effective, and there’s a need for culturally and contextually adapted preventive interventions. For instance, behavioral manifestations like aggression in these teens could be indicators requiring suicide risk assessments.<br /><br />Robinson also describes her adaptive intervention, the "Adaptive Coping with Stress Course," which includes culturally relevant content and strategies based on cognitive-behavioral therapy. This program, primarily implemented in schools, includes sessions on managing aggression and stress, using culturally appropriate metaphors, language, and contexts derived from direct input from African American teens. Early findings indicate this intervention reduces suicidal ideation, but Robinson notes the need for further development, such as booster sessions and digital adaptations. She concludes by advocating for universal preventive strategies to cater to the distinct and often challenging environments these adolescents face.

Keywords

African American adolescents

suicide prevention

mental health

cultural adaptation

cognitive-behavioral therapy

racism

community violence

economic disadvantage

Adaptive Coping with Stress Course