Leading Causes of Death Among Adolescents
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people between 10-14 years of age, making option C the correct answer. 1, 2
Analysis of Each Option:
Option A: Suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death overall in the U.S.
This statement is incorrect. According to the evidence, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death among all age groups in the United States 1. While suicide was previously the third leading cause of death for adolescents 15-19 years old 1, 3, more recent data from 2017 indicates it has moved to the second leading cause of death for persons aged 10-14,15-19, and 20-24 2.
Option B: The number of deaths by suicide and deaths by homicide in 2020 were the same.
This statement is incorrect. The evidence does not support that suicide and homicide deaths were equal in 2020. In fact, for adolescents aged 15-19, suicide rates have been consistently higher than homicide rates in recent years 2.
Option C: Suicide was the second leading cause of death among people between 10-14 years of age.
This statement is correct. According to the 2019 data, "suicide was the second leading cause of death for persons aged 10-14,15-19, and 20-24" 2. This is supported by multiple sources in the evidence provided.
Option D: People who live in urban areas have higher-than-average suicide rates.
This statement is incorrect. The evidence actually suggests the opposite trend. According to the guidelines, "firearm homicide rates were higher in major urban areas than in the nation as a whole" 1, but regarding suicide specifically, rural areas tend to have higher rates of suicide, particularly firearm-related suicide 4.
Important Facts About Adolescent Suicide:
- Suicide affects young people from all races and socioeconomic groups, although some groups have higher rates than others 1
- American Indian/Alaska Native males have the highest suicide rate, while black females have the lowest rate 1, 4
- Sexual minority youth have more than twice the rate of suicidal ideation 1
- Males are 3 times more likely to die by suicide than females, though females attempt suicide at twice the rate of males 1, 4
- The leading methods of suicide for adolescents 15-19 years old are suffocation (43%), discharge of firearms (42%), poisoning (6%), and falling (3%) 1
- Firearms in the home are associated with a higher risk of completed adolescent suicide 1
Risk Factors for Adolescent Suicide:
- Mental health disorders, particularly depression 1
- Previous suicide attempts 1
- Substance use disorders 1
- Access to lethal means, especially firearms 1, 4
- Family history of suicide 1
- Serious adverse childhood events 1
- Relationship problems, recent crises, and school problems (including bullying) 1, 5
Understanding these statistics and risk factors is crucial for healthcare providers to identify at-risk adolescents and implement appropriate prevention strategies to reduce mortality and improve quality of life outcomes.