The Future of Adolescent Suicide Research: The Role of Developmental Psychology in this Critical Field

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Abstract

Suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents are common, further exacerbated by the toll of COVID-19. In 2019, nearly 1 in 5 youth seriously considered suicide and nearly 1 in 10 made an attempt; these numbers were already staggering and are higher post COVID-19. The study of suicide is understudied in developmental psychology even though suicidal antecedents are prevalent, suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth, and the core intrapersonal “dilemmas” of suicide - the choice to live, the choice to die, identity, worth, and purpose - are profoundly central to our understanding of human development, in general, and adolescent development, in particular.

In this panel, we ask “what’s next” in the field of adolescent suicide and how core tenets in developmental psychology can contribute. We will discuss the role of peers as untapped sources of support and how peer networks can be leveraged for prevention. We consider the unique developmental needs of adolescent autonomy and identity, neurobiological understanding of an approach/reward system that might dampen a heightened emotions system, and developmental needs for meaning-making and identity-affirming activities. Pamela Morris-Perez, an interdisciplinary scholar whose research intersects developmental psychology, suicidology, education, and policy will lead panelists in these questions. Panelists will address questions for all youth, and especially for LGBTQ+, Indigenous, and other minoritized youth who are at risk of suicidality (partly due to stigma and resultant minority stress, among other factors). The result will be a roundtable that lays a pathway to future work in this critical field.

Sub Unit

• Prevention and Interventions

Moderator

• Pamela Morris-Perez, New York University

Panelists

• Stephen T Russell, University of Texas at Austin

• Lisa Wexler

• Ana Ortin Peralta, Yeshiva University