Supporting Adolescents With Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in the Context of COVID-19

• In Event: Addressing Students' Mental Health Needs

Abstract

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States. Over the past decade, rates of high school student suicide attempts have steadily increased to between 8-12%. Considering the negative impacts of social isolation and increase in environmental risk-factors (e.g., parental unemployment), it is expected that the practice of social distancing to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will increase suicide risk for adolescents with pre-existing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Authors

• Marisa Marraccini, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Dana C. Griffin, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Lauren Sartain, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Megan Kathryn Rauch Griffard, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill