Structural Racism and Risk for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Black and Latine Youth

Research shows racism-related experiences may confer risk for suicidal behaviors among Black and Latine youth; this research, however, has focused on perceptible forms of racism. Structural racism, meanwhile, occurs on the institutional level and may play a critical role in youth suicide risk. I will study the link between racism, via institutional-level and individual-level indicators, and suicide-related risk among Black and Latine adolescents. I will conduct secondary data analyses by leveraging three existing data sources including: (1) my pilot data from an online, survey-based study of Black and Latine adolescents; (2) the state-level Structural Racism Index, a composite of racial disparities across five institutions; and (3) the Project Implicit measures of implicit and explicit racial biases. Findings from this research will help unveil novel targets for youth suicide prevention strategies both at the institutional level (e.g., policies targeting racial disparities) and at the individual level (i.e., subjective experiences of racism).

My project would allow research partners the opportunity to develop and hone their quantitative research analytic skills, learn about racial and ethnic disparities in youth suicidal behaviors by assisting with comprehensive literature reviews, apply critical race frameworks to understand suicide risk by centering structural, historical, and sociopolitical influences, and manuscript/grant writing and preparation skills.