Understanding suicide attempts among American Indian adolescents in New Mexico: modifiable factors related to risk and resiliency.

OBJECTIVE

To examine correlates of suicide attempts among American Indian adolescents living on reservations in New Mexico.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional

PARTICIPANTS

American Indian adolescents attending school in New Mexico, grades 6 to 12.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Data from the Search Institute Profiles of Student Life Attitudes and Behaviors survey related to suicide attempts and student assets and risk behaviors. Hypothesized predictor variables derived from 39 survey questions were tested against one outcome variable relating to prior suicide attempts.

RESULTS

Of 690 American Indian students included in the study, 24.2% indicated having attempted suicide one or more times in their lives. Salient assets included having neighbors who cared about them, adults who made them feel important, and having friends who did well in school. Notable risk factors were feeling depressed, drug and alcohol use, and having been the victim of violence.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent suicide continues to be a major concern for American Indians. A focus on strengthening parent-child relationships and community support for families may increase resiliency among youth at risk.