The New York Times (5/19, A14, Tavernise, Subscription Publication) reports that the “suicide rate among black children has nearly doubled since the early 1990s, while the rate for white children has declined,” a study published online May 18 in JAMA Pediatrics found. The findings, covering children ages five to 11, surprised researchers, as “suicide rates are almost always lower among blacks than among whites of any age.”
The AP (5/19, Tanner) reports that the study authors theorize that “black kids may experience more violence, stress or school discipline than whites, and are less likely to seek help for depression and other difficulties, but whether those factors explain the results is not known.”
Related Links:
— “Rise in Suicide by Black Children Surprises Researchers,” Sabrina Tavernise, New York Times, May 18, 2015.