University of Southern California, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Los Angeles, California.
Washington State Center for Court Research, Administrative Office of the Courts, Olympia, Washington.
J Adolesc Health. 2021 Feb;68(2):300-307. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.044. Epub 2020 Jul 6.
This study used Washington statewide administrative data to document the prevalence and trend of trauma history, suicidality, and mental health problems among all youth ordered to probation for the first time between 2011 and 2015. We also examined the extent to which trauma and mental health problems were associated with youth suicide risk during this time.
More than 16,500 youth started probation (2011-2015) and received a standardized risk assessment. We used descriptive statistics to assess the prevalence of trauma history, suicidality, mental health problems, and overall risk to reoffend. We then used multilevel logistic regression models (youth within counties) to assess each measure's association with suicidality.
About 80% of the youth had a history of at least one traumatic experience. As fewer youth started probation for the first time each year, the prevalence of trauma, suicidality, mental health problems, and overall risk to reoffend increased. Trauma, mental health, and overall risk were significantly associated with suicide risk among probation youth.
This epidemiological study is expected to motivate discussion around the best ways to integrate trauma-informed care and suicide prevention in the juvenile justice system.
本研究利用华盛顿州全州行政数据，记录了 2011 年至 2015 年间首次被判处缓刑的所有青少年的创伤史、自杀意念和心理健康问题的流行率和趋势。我们还研究了在此期间，创伤和心理健康问题与青少年自杀风险的关联程度。
超过 16500 名青少年开始缓刑（2011-2015 年）并接受了标准化的风险评估。我们使用描述性统计方法评估了创伤史、自杀意念、心理健康问题和再次犯罪的总体风险的流行率。然后，我们使用多层次逻辑回归模型（青年在县内）来评估每个指标与自杀意念的关联。
约 80%的青少年有至少一次创伤经历。随着每年开始首次缓刑的青少年人数减少，创伤、自杀意念、心理健康问题和再次犯罪的总体风险增加。创伤、心理健康和总体风险与缓刑青少年的自杀风险显著相关。
这项流行病学研究有望激发围绕在青少年司法系统中如何最好地整合创伤知情护理和预防自杀的讨论。
