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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Michelle Chino, PhD, UNLV Center for American Indian Research and Education, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 45-3030, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3030, 702-895-2649, michelle.chino@ccmail.nevada.edu, Lynne Fullerton-Gleason, PhD, Trauma Institute, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 2040 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 501, Las Vegas, NV 89102, and Jennifer Personius, MA, Nevada Institute for Children, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 45-3030, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3030.
Introduction: This paper presents preliminary findings from research being conducted by the Nevada Suicide Prevention Research Center (SPRC). As part of an effort to prevent suicide in the intermountain west, SPRC research includes a major focus on youth and on American Indians. Background: Extant survey data, including attitude and behavior data from 690 youth living on Indian reservations in New Mexico, were examined for factors that correlated with one or more suicide attempts. Hypotheses were tested regarding relationships between the incidence of reported suicide attempts, risk behaviors, family support, community support, and perceptions of current and future well being. Results: Overall, one-fourth (24.1%) of the teens reported one or more suicide attempt, with girls (33.1%) more likely than boys (29.6%) to report an attempt (p £.0003). The strongest correlates with suicide attempts were cocaine use (p£. 0001), inhalant use (p £ .0001), friends who use drugs (p£. 0001), and sometimes feeling that life has no purpose (p £.0001). A multivariate model included gender, values about teen drinking, cocaine use in the preceding year, feeling that life has no purpose, and adults treating them as important as predictor variables, and three control variables. This model was significant (p£. 0001) and explained 46% of the variance in the outcome variable: suicide attempts. Discussion: Adolescent suicide continues to be a major concern for American Indians. A focus on strengthening parent-child relationships and community support for families may provide additional protective factors for youth at risk.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participants will
Keywords: Adolescents, Suicide
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.