Suicide is a leading cause of death in children 12 years of age and younger and new research reveals there is a racial disparity among this age group.
A recent study was the first to show higher suicide rates among black children when compared to white individuals of the same age, the Nationwide Children's Hospital reported.
"Little is known about the epidemiology of suicide in this age group," said Jeff Bridge, lead researcher of the study and principal investigator at the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's. "Prior research has typically excluded children younger than 10 years old and investigated trends only within specific older age groups."
The analysis revealed suicide to be the 14th ranked cause of death in black children between the ages of 5 and 11 between 1993 and 1997, but it rose to 9th place between 2008 and 2012. Alternatively, suicide was ranked 12th in the earlier time period for white children and 11th between 2008 and 2012.
"Parents and health care providers need to be aware that children under the age of 12 can and sometimes do think about suicide," Bridge said. "It is important to ask children directly about suicide if you are concerned about a child: 'Are you having thoughts about killing yourself?' Research has refuted the notion that asking children directly about suicide may trigger subsequent suicidal thinking or behavior. It does not hurt to ask."
The researchers also urged parents to remain alert for signs of suicidal thoughts in their children, and to ask their children if they are having these types of feelings.
In the future, the researchers hope to determine factors that contribute to suicide risk in children younger than 12.
"We are currently working on a follow-up study to investigate precipitants of suicide that distinguish children under the age of 12 from early adolescents," Bridge said. "We may need to tailor suicide prevention interventions for younger children if we find that the factors contributing to child suicide are different than those associated with adolescent suicide."
The findings were published in a recent edition of the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
