|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among children, teens, and young adults—and it’s becoming an increasingly urgent public health concern. In response to this growing crisis, researchers reviewed dozens of studies to better understand which treatments help reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people. The review looked at both the effectiveness and safety of available treatments, including therapy, medication, and crisis interventions.
What the Research Looked At
The review analyzed 65 studies involving more than 14,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 24. Most of the research focused on teens aged 12 to 18, many of whom were girls from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and had conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or a history of suicidal thoughts.
Researchers reviewed different kinds of support, including:
- Talk therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Crisis interventions in emergency rooms or after hospital discharge
- School and community programs
- Medication and newer types of brain treatments (like neurostimulation)
Key Findings
1. DBT Shows Promise—but Only in Full-Length Programs
The strongest evidence supports Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) when used as a long-term, structured program (typically 6–12 months). This approach may help reduce suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors in teens. However, shorter or simplified versions of DBT didn’t show clear benefits.
2. CBT May Offer Limited Help
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—one of the most commonly used treatments for youth mental health—showed only limited or no benefit in reducing suicidal thoughts or attempts.
3. Other Therapies Need More Study
Therapies like family-based treatment, assessment-centered programs, and emotion-focused methods didn’t show enough evidence to confirm whether they help. This doesn’t mean they don’t work—but that more research is needed to understand their impact.
4. Crisis Support in Hospitals Still Lacks Clear Evidence
Programs provided in emergency departments or just after hospital discharge—like safety planning, family-based crisis counseling, or motivational interviewing—have not been proven to reduce suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
5. School and Community Programs Are Important, But Inconclusive
Efforts in schools and communities, such as peer support, skills training, and suicide awareness education, haven’t shown strong results so far in lowering suicide risk—though they often serve important roles in prevention and early identification.
6. Medications and Brain-Based Treatments Are Largely Unstudied
There is very little to no research on how medications or newer brain-based treatments affect suicidal youth. This is a major gap in current understanding.
7. Why Some Treatments May Help—Even Without Clear Proof
Some improvement may be happening because young people in these studies receive more care, empathy, and attention—regardless of which treatment group they’re in. Being connected to the mental health system itself may provide a level of support that helps with healing.
Why This Matters
Most of the treatments studied were originally designed for adults and then adjusted for youth. But kids and teens have unique emotional, developmental, and social needs. This review shows that we still have a long way to go in developing treatments that truly fit their experiences—especially for those at high risk for suicide.
What Needs to Happen Next
- More youth-specific research: Especially for medications and newer types of therapy.
- Better tracking of harm: Many studies didn’t report on possible negative effects of treatment.
- Focus on developmentally appropriate care: Programs must be designed with young people’s life stages and real-world challenges in mind.
- Address the bigger picture: Social factors like racism, poverty, access to care, and family dynamics can affect outcomes—and need to be part of the solution.
Bottom Line:
Right now, the strongest support exists for long-term DBT programs, but most treatments for suicidal youth need more research. Mental health care for young people should be more personalized, evidence-based, and built around their specific needs. The sooner we close these gaps, the better we can protect and support vulnerable youth across our communities.
