526 - Screening Preteen Medical Patients for Suicide Risk: Time to ASQ

Poster Number: 526
Publication Number: 526.422

Nathan J. Lowry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Annabelle M. Mournet, National Institute of Mental Health, New York, NY, United States; Patrick C. Ryan, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Arielle H. Sheftall, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States; Shayla A. Sullivant, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO, United States; Laika D. Aguinaldo, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States; Elizabeth A. Wharff, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Maryland Pao, NIMH, Bethesda, MD, United States; Jeffrey Bridge, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States; Lisa M. Horowitz, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, United States

Background: Between 2010 and 2019, suicide deaths among preteens (youth aged 10-12) increased nearly 140%. Notably, 38% of youth who die by suicide have contact with a healthcare setting within a month of their death, positioning pediatric medical settings as crucial partners in detecting youth suicide risk. Previous research has highlighted the importance of screening preteens for suicide risk in the medical setting. For example, in a sample of preteens presenting to the emergency department with chief medical complaints, 7% screened positive. However, limited research exists on suicide risk and preteens in other medical settings.

Objective: Examine the prevalence of preteens who screen positive for suicide risk in pediatric inpatient medical units and outpatient medical settings.

Design/Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected from two multisite instrument validation studies of youth aged 10 to 21 years. For this sub analysis, participants were youth ages 10 to 12 years who presented to either an inpatient medical/surgical unit or outpatient specialty and primary care clinic. Suicide risk was determined by the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ). Descriptive statistics were calculated to examine the prevalence of preteens who screened positive for suicide risk.

Results: The total sample included 1114 youth, of which 17.8% (198/1114) were aged 10-12 (51.3% female; 53.7% white, 21.1% black; M[SD] age = 11.2[0.7]). Among these preteens, 3.5% (7/198) screened positive on the ASQ and were considered “at-risk” for suicide. When stratifying by medical setting, inpatient and outpatient settings had a positivity rate of 3.5% (4/113 and 3/85). Three preteens indicated they had previously attempted suicide, and two endorsed the ASQ’s acuity question, “Are you having thoughts of killing yourself right now?”Conclusion(s): This study's overall positive rate, 3.5%, highlights the importance of screening preteens for suicide risk in outpatient and inpatient medical settings. Notably, two preteens in this sample reported having current thoughts of suicide, further highlighting the importance of universal screening with young people. For optimum detection of suicide risk, pediatric medical settings should consider screening all youth ages 10 and above.