Black Youth Suicide: How to Slow Rising Rates

First Published July 2021
Updated September 2025

From 2009 to 2021 the percentage of Black youth who considered suicide, made a suicide plan and attempted suicide all increased. In fact, the rate of suicide in Black youth younger than age 13 is approximately two times higher compared to white children of the same age.

When researchers take a closer look at what could be driving the rising rates of Black youth suicide, they often explore the impact of stressful situations Black youth experience in connection with their race. In 2022, Dr. Alfie Breland-Noble and the AKOMA Project published research that gathered survey data from 2,905 Youth of Color between ages 13 and 25. 42% of those teens and young adults reported experiencing at least one situation in which they felt unsafe and/or targeted because of their race or culture.

But how do we slow the rate of suicide in Black youth? We believe we must start from the ground up. There are three main ways we believe we can make a difference.

1. Do more research. The risk factors for suicidal behaviors, such as depression, may not apply to Black youth the same as they do white youth. One area of concern for Black youth is their exposure to the murders of unarmed Black men. This exposure has been linked to negative mental health outcomes throughout the Black community, but it is not clear how exposure, either directly or via media coverage, affects Black youth mental health. 
2. Understand the pathway. Evidence tells us that Black youth don’t show expected or “classic” warning signs of suicidal behavior, like depression or suicidal ideation or thoughts of suicide before attempting or dying by suicide. So how do Black youth reach this point? Learning more about their pathway needs to be a top priority. 
3. Entrust community partners to help with prevention. Places like beauty and barber shops have shown to help tackle health issues such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular (heart) health and HIV testing. Similar successes could be achieved with mental health within settings like churches, Black Greek organizations, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, after-school programs and others. The reason? Trust already exists in these settings.

Here in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at the Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion, we are dedicated to continuing this important research so that we can help all youth before they reach a mental health crisis. As we better understand what may be unique about the Black youth experience, we can hopefully decrease the rising suicide rates among Black youth.

If you or your child needs immediate help due to having suicidal thoughts, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (Spanish language is available). If there is an immediate safety concern, call 911 or go the nearest emergency room.