Research Project

Suicide Risk During Transition to Early Adulthood

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 2001-2004

• Dr. Jerald R. Herting (PI)
• Dr. Elaine A. Thompson
• Dr. Leona L. Eggert
• Dr. Brooke P. Randell

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents. Moreover, suicide rates increase during the transition form late adolescences to early adulthood. This proposal addresses this transitional period by: 1) addressing a broad range of risk and protective factors and their relationship to suicide risk; 2) improving our understanding of the etiology of suicide risk by providing a longitudinal approach over three years with five repeated measures; 3) focusing on subgroups at higher risk of suicidal behaviors; 4) using state-of-the-art approaches to longitudinal analysis with the intent of testing etiologic models and developing classifications of risk trajectories; and 5) evaluating an indicated prevention program for reducing long-term suicide risk. The proposed research adds two surveys to an existing longitudinal database. The original survey represents a stratified random sample of high school aged youth from an urban school district. The completed longitudinal database will cover a three or four year period and span the ages 15 to 22, thus capturing the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood. Effects of early suicide risk behaviors, early related-risk factors (e.g. drug use) and other risk (e.g. family distress) or protective factors (e.g. social support) on early adulthood suicide risk would be investigated. The combined dataset and analyses will enhance our knowledge of the etiology of suicidal behaviors, address suicide risk during an important transitional period, and examine the long-term effectiveness of a prevention program for reducing suicide risk. Achieving these aims will further our understanding of this transitional period and help specify preventive interventions to reduce suicide risk and its associated personal, social and economic costs.