Data Genocide in Focus: Racial Disaggregation of Rates of Adolescent Suicidal Ideation and Attempts among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States

Parker Smith, Kayleigh Noblin, Amy Hendrix-Dicken, Michael Dunlap, Micah Hartwell

Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Our primary objective was to compare the rates of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among adolescents using the computed raceeth variable in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) to self-reported ethnoracial identity.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2021 YRBSS survey to determine rates of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts between AI/AN adolescents using the raceeth variable and self-reported ethnoracial categories. We reported the sample rates and the population-weighted percentages using sampling weights and survey design provided by YRBSS.

Results: The population-weighted percentage of suicidal ideation for the AI/AN category of the raceeth variable was 27.3% and for suicide attempts was 21.85%— which corresponded to only those who self-reported as AI/AN alone (non-Hispanic). While certain groupings were similar, self-selected ethnoracial combinations with much higher percentages of suicidal ideation were AI/AN + White (Hispanic) at 42.3%, AI/AN + Black or African American (non-Hispanic) at 33.3%, and AI/AN + Black or African American + White (non-Hispanic) at 41.05%. For suicide attempts, groups with the highest rates included self-reported as AI/AN + Black or African American + White (non-Hispanic) at 43.6% and AI/AN + White (Hispanic) at 32.43%.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that YRBSS estimates are likely missing key segments of the AI/AN community. We found that rates of both suicidal ideation and attempts are much higher among adolescents reporting as AI/AN in combination with White with Hispanic ethnicity and among who reported as non-Hispanic, AI/AN in combination with Black or African American and White—both groups having rates 12-21% higher than AI/AN alone (non-Hispanic) from the raceeth variable. Our study highlights the need for healthcare workers to be aware of these disparities as well as the need for more inclusive public health research.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages55
StatePublished - 13 Sep 2024
Event2024 Symposium on Tribal and Rural Innovations in Disparities and Equity for Health - Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, United States
Duration: 13 Sep 202413 Sep 2024

Conference

Conference2024 Symposium on Tribal and Rural Innovations in Disparities and Equity for Health
Abbreviated titleSTRIDE 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTahlequah
Period13/09/2413/09/24

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