U Researcher Finds Parental Support in Lives of Indian Youth Greatly Reduces the Risk of Suicide Attempts

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Sept. 22, 2008) — University of Minnesota researchers found that the presence of one or more protective factors in the lives of American Indian/Alaskan Native youth greatly reduced their risk of attempting suicide.

Suicide rates for American Indian/Alaskan Native youth between the ages of 10 – 15 are four times higher than those for all other races combined in this age group. However, University of Minnesota researchers found that American Indian/Alaskan Native youth who had the presence of one or more protective factors, in this case, a positive mood and parents who supported positive behaviors, were less likely to think about or attempt suicide. Positive mood meant feeling good “in general," never or rarely feeling bored, and being satisfied with life “some” or “a lot.” Youth who thought that their parents wanted them to stay out of trouble and would disapprove of drinking or using drugs, getting arrested, or dropping out of school were also more protected from suicide. Having these positive protective factors played an important role even when major challenges such as substance abuse or involvement in violence perpetration put them at risk.

"What this means is that we must not give up on teens headed down a troubled path," said Linda H. Bearinger, Ph.D., M.S., F.A.A.N, director of the Center for Adolescent Nursing in the School of Nursing. She led the team of University researchers who partnered with American Indian youth workers as well as leaders from Minneapolis Public Schools and the Minneapolis American Indian Center to find answers on how to support these students at greatest risk.

"If we can discover the most effective ways to support these young people and respond quickly to signs of distress, we can have a significant impact on their risk for suicide,” Bearinger added. “As with other teens, this research tells us that our investments in programs and resources that help strengthen connections between young people and their families is key to their healthy development."  

In the past, studies on teens' health focused heavily on risky behaviors and their outcomes without measuring ways to protect against these risks. The interdisciplinary team at the University of Minnesota, including researchers from the School of Nursing, Medical School, and School of Public Health, took a new approach and asked teens an expanded set of questions.  They asked the young people about their perspectives on what their parents wanted for them and expected of them, along with how close they felt to one or both parents, the openness of communication, and the quality of time together with family. Similar questions tapped into the young people's views about school, teachers, and other important people in their lives. By doing so, they identified ways that families, schools, clinicians, youth workers, and other key people can help to protect them from harm – suicide, violence, substance use, STIs, and early pregnancy. 

"Minnesota is a leader in shaping the way we understand young people, focusing on their strengths and the ways that families, schools, and communities can support healthy pathways to adulthood," Bearinger said.

This research was funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research and the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health.  

The article, “Protecting Urban American Indian Young People From Suicide,” appears in the September/October issue of The American Journal of Health Behavior.

The Academic Health Center is home to the University of Minnesota’s six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Founded in 1851, the University is one of the oldest and largest land grant institutions in the country. The AHC prepares the new health professionals who improve the health of communities, discover and deliver new treatments and cures, and strengthen the health economy.

Contact:          Laura Stroup, Academic Health Center, 612-624-5680 or stro0481@umn.edu
Jenna Langer, Academic Health Center, 612-626-4784 or lang0712@umn.edu