525 - Racial Differences in Depression, Suicidality, and Mental Health Treatment in Adolescents

Poster Number: 525
Publication Number: 525.422

Bahroze Rakeen, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, United States; Shale L. Wong, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States; John M. Westfall, Robert Graham Center, Washington, DC, United States; Henry Olaisen, Robert Graham Center, Washington, DC, United States

Background: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents and a public health imperative. Depressive symptoms are a risk factor for suicidality. Major Depressive Episodes (MDEs), suicidality, and mental health service utilization are known to vary by race. More research is needed to highlight racial differences in rates of MDEs, suicidality, and mental health treatment in adolescents who are a particularly vulnerable population.

Objective: It is crucial to 1) identify rates of MDEs and suicidality, 2) to examine racial differences in MDE and suicidality, and 3) to examine if racial differences exist in receiving mental health treatment in adolescents.

Design/Methods: Data were studied for youths aged 12–17 years, extracted from the online Public-Use Data Analytic System (PDAS) from the 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). NSDUH is a household survey and race/ethnicity is based on self-report. Prevalence of MDE was determined in adolescents based on the questions on the survey derived from the depression screener (PHQ-9) for youth: when the youth meets five out of the nine symptoms and at least one of the symptoms is “a depressed mood”, or “loss of interest or pleasure in daily activity”. Suicidality is based on the responses to the question “Any thoughts or plans of suicide?”. Mental health services utilization of the youth who reported MDE is based on whether they “saw or talked to a physician or mental health professional” in the past year.

Results: The analytic sample included 56,136 youth ages 12–17y (24.9 million, 9.0% of the US population). The 12-month prevalence of MDE was 15.8% (95% [Confidence Interval [15.2–16.5]), highest in Non-Hispanic Multiracial adolescents (23.1% [19.4–27.2]). The 12-month prevalence of suicidality was 16.9% (4.2 million), highest amongst youth in the Non-Hispanic Multiracial group (22.2% [18.3–26.6]).
 
Of the youth with MDE, 39.7% (95% CI 36.4–42.8) reported that they “saw or talked to a physician or mental health professional” in the past year. Highest mental health service utilization was found in White adolescents (40.7% [37.9–43.6]) and lowest in Asian adolescents (16.5% [7.9–31.1]). Conclusion(s): Non-White adolescents had higher prevalence of MDE and suicidality yet lower rates of mental health treatment compared to White adolescents. It is essential to identify factors that are contributing to these racial differences in order to increase access to mental health treatment for minority youth and resolve disparities in care.
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