In 2022, suicide was the third leading cause of death for Black or African Americans ages 10 to 24.1 The death rate from suicide for Black or African American males was more than four times higher than for Black or African American females in 2021.2 The overall suicide rate for Black or African Americans was 50% lower than that of the non-Hispanic white population, in 2021.2
But for young Black people also confronting persistent racism and ever-widening inequities, the current moment has led to an acute crisis in mental health. The suicide rate among Black youth, which for years trailed that of Asian and white students, has doubled since 2014 is now twice the statewide average, far exceeding all other groups ...
The suicide rate among Black adolescents is increasing faster than other racial and ethnic groups. From 2007 to 2020, the suicide rate rose 144% among 10- to 17-year-olds who are Black. Although the overall youth suicide rate is trending downwards, this data raises alarms about the need to improve and address mental health care for Black communities.
Black Youth Suicide Data. From 2018 to 2021, suicide rates among Black youth ages 10–24 years increased from 8.2% to 11.2% (PDF | 99 KB), a 36.6% increase. In 2021, for Black youth ages 10–24, suicide was the third leading cause of death. In the last 25 years, self-reported Black youth suicide attempts increased by 73% (PDF | 1 MB).
Mental health definitions. Mental health is the component of behavioral health that includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. 1 Mental health is a state of well-being that enables us to cope with the stresses of life, realize our abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to our community. 2. Mental distress 3 is a general term for a subjective sense of discomfort ...
Fast Facts. 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year; 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year; 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year; 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24; Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14
There is still a dearth of research targeting the mental health of Black youth, even though Black youth suicide rates are rising faster than those of any other racial or ethnic group in America. 6 Twice as many Black children as white children lost caregivers to COVID-19, while also experiencing harmful vicarious racism as they bear witness to ...
The discussion focused on the disparities in mental health treatment sought by Black and White Americans, and the increasing rates of mental health issues and suicide among young Black men in particular. The suicide rate among Black people between 2018 and 2021 increased by 19.2%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...
Rising Statistics and Culturally Competent Care . According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), suicide rates among Black youth ages 10-24 years increased from 8.2% to 11.2% from 2018 and 2021, and was the third leading cause of death.
Mental health stigma is a prominent, known barrier to treatment that can hinder prompt interventions for psychiatric problems . Medical mistrust, in combination with stigma within the Black community, may amplify the mental health disparities that are significantly affecting Black youths (15, 16). The history of unethical medical experiments (e ...
Topic Health Year 2024 Print. WHEREAS, Twenty-one percent (21%) of the Black/African American population in the United States (US) reported having a mental illness in comparison to almost twenty-four percent (23.9%) of the white population according to a 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health; and. WHEREAS, Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Black people received mental health services ...
Research and health surveillance data point to a growing mental health crisis among Black youth over decades. Between 1991 and 2019, Black adolescents had the highest increase among any racial or ethnic group in prevalence of suicide attempts — a rise of nearly 80%.
Despite rates of mental health concerns that are equal to or higher than the overall LGBTQ youth population, 60% of Black LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care were not able to get it. Nearly half of Black LGBTQ youth (49%) reported wanting psychological or emotional counseling but were unable to receive it in the past 12 months compared to ...
More than 14 million students, most of them living in low-income or rural areas, attend schools that have no counselor, nurse, psychologist, or social worker, but the services are needed more than ever, according to data.In the three years between 2015 and 2018, major depressive episodes in Black teens increased by 14 percent, and suicide attempts by Black youth increased by 73 percent between ...
Teen suicide rates among black youth are increasing. In 2016 and again in 2018, national data revealed that among children age 5-11, black children had the highest rate of death by suicide. For the years 2008 to 2012, 59 black youth died by suicide, up from 54 in the years 2003-2007. Also, the 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that ...
Center for National Health Statistics. 2015. Accessed March 20, 2025. ... Meaning These findings suggest that interventions targeting mental health among Black or African American adults may benefit from ... Mercy JA, et al. Violence-related disparities experienced by black youth and young adults: opportunities for prevention. ...
The Covid-19 pandemic era ushered in a new set of challenges for youth in the United States, leading to a mental health crisis as declared by the United States surgeon general just over a year ago.But U.S. children and teens have been suffering for far longer. In the 10 years leading up to the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness—as well as suicidal thoughts and ...
In an effort to bridge the gap of mental health disparities within the Black community, solutions such as improving healthcare access, replacing standardized testing with equitable alternatives, addressing racial trauma, and supporting future Black psychologists dedicated to Black mental health disparities are vital.
