Suicide Among African Americans

This chapter examines suicide and suicidal behaviors among African American adolescent and young adult males. It shows that the odds for suicide were highest for African American males, even after controlling for the numerous clinical, geographic, and sociodemographic vulnerability factors associated with suicide. This finding supports previous risk factor studies and epidemiological research that illustrated a rise in suicide among African Americans, particularly the younger age groups. Consistent with prior analysis of suicidal behavior, the analyses reveal that African Americans are more likely to die at younger ages of suicide. The study also confirmed prior research showing that having a gun in the home substantially increases the risk for suicide. This is particularly true for males, as illustrated by the almost fourfold increase in the risk of suicide when a gun is known to be in the home.