The Relationship Between Race and Factors Related to Poor Mental Health and Suicide Ideation Among High School Students: An Analysis Using 2019 YRBSS & SAMHDA Data
Abstract
The correlation between age and mental illness among adolescents is relatively high. There is a noteworthy amount of research into the prevalence of suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide within this age group, however, there is a need for research into the relationship between suicidal indicators, display of symptoms, and actual diagnoses of mental illness. Previous research show trends between minorities and females leading to higher rates of mental disorders and suicide, but there is little evidence to make a prediction about differences in regard to specific race and suicidal indicators. This study aims to analyze the correlation between race in relation to feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a diagnosis of depression, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide in high school students in the United States. Data examined from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt. We will also perform a one-way ANOVA test to test for statistical significance. Depression diagnosis data will be obtained from 2019 Mental Health Client Level Data (MH-CLD). Based on the previous literature, we anticipate that within different racial groups, there will be a higher prevalence of all four mental health factors in the white population. Analyzing the data will show a trend between race and mental health indicators and will allow for general correlations to be found between said mental health indicators. In conclusion, we expect to see noteworthy trends between race and symptoms of depression, depression diagnosis, thoughts of suicide, and attempted suicide.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Christi M. Navarro
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-6-2023 4:00 PM
The Relationship Between Race and Factors Related to Poor Mental Health and Suicide Ideation Among High School Students: An Analysis Using 2019 YRBSS & SAMHDA Data
Alvin Sherman Library
The correlation between age and mental illness among adolescents is relatively high. There is a noteworthy amount of research into the prevalence of suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide within this age group, however, there is a need for research into the relationship between suicidal indicators, display of symptoms, and actual diagnoses of mental illness. Previous research show trends between minorities and females leading to higher rates of mental disorders and suicide, but there is little evidence to make a prediction about differences in regard to specific race and suicidal indicators. This study aims to analyze the correlation between race in relation to feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a diagnosis of depression, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide in high school students in the United States. Data examined from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt. We will also perform a one-way ANOVA test to test for statistical significance. Depression diagnosis data will be obtained from 2019 Mental Health Client Level Data (MH-CLD). Based on the previous literature, we anticipate that within different racial groups, there will be a higher prevalence of all four mental health factors in the white population. Analyzing the data will show a trend between race and mental health indicators and will allow for general correlations to be found between said mental health indicators. In conclusion, we expect to see noteworthy trends between race and symptoms of depression, depression diagnosis, thoughts of suicide, and attempted suicide.
