A new report published in the American Journal of Psychiatry highlights a distressing trend: suicide rates for Black women and girls aged 15 to 24 have more than doubled over the past two decades.
The study, led by Victoria Joseph, an analyst in the department of epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, sheds light on the concerning rise in suicides among young Black females in the United States.
Analyzing data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics database from 1999 to 2020, the researchers discovered a significant increase in suicide rates among this demographic.
In 1999, 289 Black females aged 15 to 24 died by suicide, a number that surged to 652 by 2020. The researchers observed an inflection point around 2010, marking a turning point for subsequent increases in suicide deaths.
The overall suicide rate among Black females increased from 2% in 1999 to 3.4% in 2020.
However, the most alarming escalation was among Black females ages 15 to 24, with rates soaring from 1.9 per 100,000 in 1999 to 4.9 per 100,000 in 2020, more than doubling within this age group.
The study notes a clear age effect, indicating higher suicide rates among younger Black females.
While the reasons behind this disturbing trend are still under investigation, the researchers suggest that factors such as cyberbullying and online racial attacks may be contributing.
Katherine Keyes, senior study author and professor of epidemiology at Columbia, emphasizes the critical need for interventions targeting stressors faced by young Black women.
Victoria Joseph adds that “intimate partner violence, neighborhood violence, and lack of investment into federal and state support systems” also contribute to poor mental health outcomes and limited treatment access for Black females facing a mental health crisis.
The study serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for mental health interventions and support systems tailored to address the specific challenges faced by Black teen girls and young women.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available by calling or texting 988.
