Suicide ideation and behavior disparities among high school students: Examining Asian and multiracial race/ethnicity groups

Abstract

We examined racial and ethnic disparities of suicide ideation/behaviors of high school students using detailed race/ethnicity data including Asian and multiracial race/ethnicity groups. The 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were used to assess suicide ideation/behavior disparities across traditionally studied non-Latinx Black, Latinx, and non-Latinx White and understudied (non-Latinx Asian, multiracial-Latinx, multiracial-non-Latinx) racial/ethnic groups while controlling for common risk factors. Non-Latinx Black, multiracial Latinx, and multiracial non-Latinx students have higher odds of suicide attempt and injurious suicide attempt compared to non-Latinx Whites. Asian and multiracial non-Latinx students have higher odds of reporting suicide ideation and making a suicide plan compared to non-Latinx Whites. Results suggest that suicide ideation and behavior patterns differed considerably across racial/ethnic groups, and elicited the importance of including other racial/ethnic groups when conducting racial disparities analysis.