School Risk and Protective Factors of Suicide: A Cultural Model of Suicide Risk and Protective Factors in Schools

Abstract

There are known cultural variations in correlates of and symptoms related to suicide-related thoughts and behaviors; however, the majority of research that informs suicide prevention in school systems has focused on research based on Euro-American/White students. By exploring school-related risk and protective factors in ethnic-racial minoritized students, we expand existing multicultural models of suicide prevention for school settings. Specifically, this systematic literature review identified 33 studies conducted with American Indian and Alaskan Native, Hispanic and Latinx, Black and African American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Findings underscore the importance of building relationships with the school community and fostering a sense of safety for students, the need to approach school-based suicide prevention and intervention with cultural considerations, and the importance of connecting students and families with providers in culturally sensitive and informed ways. Taken together, schools need to build school-family-community partnerships that promote culturally sensitive approaches to suicide prevention.

Keywords: Community-School Collaboration; Ethnicity; Family-School Collaboration; Social Justice; Suicide.

Figure 1.

Culturally Specific Risk Factors in Schools Notes. Figure adapted from Chu (2010); Boxes in white indicate preliminary research supporting school context, boxes with dashed lines indicate areas requiring investigation.