Service utilization characteristics among adolescents from racial and ethnic minority groups at elevated risk for suicide: A scoping review

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescents from racial and ethnic minority groups (herein ethnoracially minoritized) in the US contemplate and/or attempt suicide at higher rates than other youths. To address suicide risk, access to and utilization of mental health services is necessary. However, service utilization characteristics for these adolescents at elevated risk for suicide are not well understood. PurposeTo systematically synthesize service utilization characteristics and identify factors associated with utilization among ethnoracially minoritized adolescents reporting elevated suicide risk (i.e., suicidal ideation, attempts, non-suicidal self-injury). MethodsThis review follows established scoping review guidelines and Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Service Use to guide data synthesis. We systematically searched five scientific databases with no restriction to dates of publication. ResultsA total of 15 records (12 unique studies) were reviewed. Studies primarily focused on female adolescents (n = 12), suicide attempts (n = 6), and predominantly Hispanic/Latinx samples (n = 4). Crisis oriented services after a suicide attempt were the most reported service utilization outcomes (n = 7). Factors that informed service utilization include the adolescent’s psychiatric symptom presentation and family characteristics. DiscussionStudies suggest limited access to preventative services for ethnoracially minoritized adolescents at risk for suicide. Future studies must examine service utilization more broadly to include non-healthcare service utilization and structural and socio-cultural factors associated with utilization. Limitations of this review and implications for future research are discussed.