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. 2016;16(3):169-181.
doi: 10.1080/15228932.2016.1172424. Epub 2016 May 10.

Suicidal ideation and attempts among court-involved, non-incarcerated youth

Kathleen Kemp  1 , Marina Tolou-Shams  1 , Selby Conrad  1 , Emily Dauria  1 , Kira Neel  1 , Larry Brown  1
Affiliations

Suicidal ideation and attempts among court-involved, non-incarcerated youth

Kathleen Kemp et al. J Forensic Psychol Pract. 2016.

Abstract

Over the past decade, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among adolescents and a public health priority. Court-involved non-incarcerated juvenile justice youth frequently present with risk factors for suicide. Among these court-involved youth, 14% (n=50) endorsed a lifetime history of suicide ideation and attempts. Three main factors were associated with increased risk: prior offense, substance use, and childhood sexual abuse histories. This study highlights the importance of understanding suicidal behavior among non-detained juvenile justice populations. Community-based court involvement provides a rare opportunity to coordinate screening and suicide prevention efforts for youth and their families.

Keywords: adolescents; juvenile justice; mental health; screening; suicide.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no disclosures or conflicts of interest to report.

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