Symposia
Suicide and Self-Injury
Erin Wright-Kelly, M.A., Other
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado
Jani Little, PhD, MA
Senior Research Associate
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Kate Little, BA
PRA
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Ashley Brooks-Russell, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado
Marian E. Betz, M.D., Other
Professor
Unviersity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
While U.S. suicide rates decreased 4.5% among non-Hispanic Whites from 2019 to 2020, they increased 4.0% among non-Hispanic Blacks and 6.2% among non-Hispanic American Indians. Firearms account for over half of suicide deaths and are the most lethal suicide attempt method. Reducing access to firearms in times of crisis can reduce the risk of suicide overall. Yet, studies specific to understanding risk factors for firearm suicide among racial/ethnic minority groups are limited. This knowledge would inform furture directions for culturally-informed screening and prevention strategies for firearm suicide prevention.
To address this gap, this study analyzed National Violent Death Reporting System data from 42 participating U.S. states for the years 2014 to 2018. We used logistic regressions to compare demographic characteristics and precipitating circumstances of suicide among racial/ethnic minority groups to Whites. There were 60,605 firearm suicide decedents during the five-year period; of those 13% were among racial/ethnic minority gruops. Of these deaths, 88% were male. Among racial/ethnic minority males compared to Whites, we found several differences by age, military service, and education. Mental health problems were more common among Whites, except depression in Hispanics and alcohol problems in American Indians were more common compared to Whites. A history of suicidal behaviors was more common among Whites, with only American Indians being more likely to have had previous thoughts of suicide than Whites. All racial/ethnic minority groups were more likely than Whites to have perpetrated violence in the past month and for a crime to be in progress at the time of death. The presence of legal, health, or financial problems were more common among Whites, except for criminal legal problems among Blacks and American Indians and the loss of a home more common among Asian/Pacific Islanders than Whites.
The study findings help understand differing risk factors associated with firearm suicide among racial/ethnic minority males in the U.S. They show criminal legal problems were more common and mental health problems less common for racial/ethnic minority males compared to non-Hispanic White males. This raises questions about differential criminal justice responses according to race/ethnicity and/or under and/or mis-diagnoses of mental health concerns. These findings carry implications for successful prevention involving cross-sector engagement among public health, mental health, and criminal justice professionals.