SUICIDALITY AMONG TRANSITIONAL-AGED YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
https://doi.org/ 10.18384/2310-7235-2017-1-50-64
Abstract
Suicide is a major problem among transitional-aged youth, yet little is known about how this phenomenon impacts youth with disabilities. This exploratory study sought to glean information about the prevalence of suicidality (i.e. self-reported suicidal thought, plan or attempt) amongst transitional-aged people aged 18-24 years old with a range of disabilities and a comparison group of youth without disabilities. This quasi-experimental study drew on secondary data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Study - a nationally representative study on matters relevant to behavioral health. Findings suggest that transitional-aged people with disabilities are almost four times more likely to report past year suicidal ideation, nine times more likely to report suicide plan-making and almost eleven times more likely to report suicide attempts (p<.001). This study extends specific knowledge across a population-base for young adults aged 18-24. Further, while this study also adds to the evidence base supporting the presence of this social problem in this population.
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