Racial and Ethnic Groups
Suicide risk varies among different racial and ethnic groups. In the United States, suicide death rates are much higher among whites and American Indians/Alaska Natives than among other populations (see our Racial and Ethnic Disparities page).1 Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can vary across racial and ethnic groups, as well as within subgroups, such as people of different ages.
Risk and Protective Factors
Suicide prevention efforts seek to reduce risk factors for suicide and strengthen the factors that help strengthen individuals and protect them from suicide. Here are a few examples:
Risk factors
- Prior suicide attempt(s)
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Mood and anxiety disorders
- Access to lethal means
Protective factors
- Effective mental health care
- Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions
- Problem-solving skills
- Contacts with caregivers
Reference
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Fatal injury reports, national and regional, 1999–2014. Retrieved from http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html
Learn More
- See the Recommended Resources below selected by SPRC personnel.
- See All Resources Related to Racial and Ethnic Groups for a full list of materials, programs, trainings, and other information available from SPRC. Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.
- For more on other groups and settings, see our Populations and Settings pages.
Recommended Resources
Creating Linguistically and Culturally Competent Suicide Prevention Materials
This guide is designed to help public health practitioners produce suicide prevention materials for specific cultural a...
Risk and Protective Factors in Racial/Ethnic Populations in the U.S.
Risk and Protective Factors in Racial/Ethnic Populations in the U.S.
Racial/ethnic differences in mental health service use among adults
This chartbook presents estimates of mental health service use by adults aged 18 or older from different racial and eth...
All Resources Related to Racial and Ethnic Groups
Displaying 164 results. Refine results using the filters on the left.
NEWS/HIGHLIGHT
New National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Reflects Today’s Challenges
2024
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Black Trans, Nonbinary Youth Have Higher Suicide Risk Than Cisgender Queer Peers
2024
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Online Racial Discrimination and Suicidal Thoughts Among Black Adolescents
2024
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Alcohol Use Disorder and Suicidal Thoughts: Racial and Ethnic Differences
2023
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Native and Strong Lifeline: The Nation's First 988 Crisis Line for Indigenous People
2023
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Black Adults More Likely to Seek Mental Health Treatment at EDs, Pre-pandemic Data Show
2023
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988 Mental Health Line Receives Over Two Million Calls and Texts in Six Months
2023
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2012 Garrett Lee Smith State and Tribal Suicide Prevention Grantee Meeting
2023
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Report
SPRC 2021 Tribal Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment Aggregate Technical Report
2022
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“I Want to Help My People”: Tribal Nations in Oklahoma Focus on Mental Health Treatment
2022
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Gun-Related Suicides and Killings Continued to Rise in 2021, CDC Reports
2022
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Creating Effective Suicide Prevention Strategies for the Hmong Community: We Are the Peace We Need. We Are Our Own Solutions
2022
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WASHINGTON: A First-in-the-Nation 988 Line for Native People Goes Live in WA
2022
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Nearly One in Four Young Adults in U.S. Treated for Mental Health during Pandemic, CDC Survey Finds
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Black and Hispanic Americans Are More Likely to Be Struggling with Mental Health. Here’s what Employers and Communities Can Do
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Many Black Children Are Dying by Suicide, Doctors Say: Understanding the Why—and How to Help
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Joint Statement from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention about New Federal Report on Use of Indian Boarding Schools
2022
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Racial Differences in Suicide Risk among Adults in Criminal-Legal Systems
2022
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Suicide Rates Declined Again in 2020, but Not for All Groups, CDC Report Shows
2021
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“We Are in a State of Emergency”: What's Behind the Rising Suicide Rate among Black Kids
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2021
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Amid COVID and Racial Unrest, Black Churches Put Faith in Mental Health Care
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“We're Looked at as Superhuman”: How Racism Affects Black Women’s Mental Health
2020
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INTERNATIONAL: The Effects of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Indigenous Communities
2020
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For Stressed-Out Black Americans, Mental Health Care Often Hard to Come By
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Acceptance by Peers Reduced Risk of Suicide Attempts among API LGBTQ Youth, Report Finds
2020
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COVID-19: The Mental Health Impact on People of Color and Minority Groups
2020
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MINNESOTA: Minnesota Youth Unpack Their Trauma: "We Don't Have to Be Stuck in These Emotions"
2019
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Sociodemographics, Perceived Prejudice, and Suicidal Behaviors among College Students
2019
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Transforming Tribal Communities: Indigenous Perspectives on Suicide Prevention
2019
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MASSACHUSETTS: As Student Suicides Rise, a Harvard Case Opens New Questions about Schools' Responsibility
2019
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Best and Promising Practices for the Implementation of Zero Suicide in Health and Behavioral Health Care Systems in Indian Country
2019
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Suicide rates for females and males by race and ethnicity: United States, 1999 and 2017
2019
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The Qasgiq Model for Alaska Native Suicide and Alcohol Abuse Prevention
2019
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NEW YORK: Comunilife Founder Rosa Gil Opens Centers for Latina Girls as a Resource for Suicide Prevention
2019
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Pain in the nation update: While deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide slowed slightly in 2017, rates are still at historic highs
2019
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2019
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Honoring Indigenous Voices: Suicide Surveillance from a Tribal Perspective
2018
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Childhood Trauma and its Lifelong Health Effects More Prevalent among Minorities
2018
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CANADA: New Suicide Prevention Project Targets High-Risk Nunavut Residents
2018
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Suicide Risk among Pacific Islander, American Indian, and Multiracial Youth
2018
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ALASKA: Research Highlights Northwest Alaska's Suicide Prevention Work
2018
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Age-Related Racial Disparities in Suicide Rates among Youth Ages 5 to 17 Years
2018
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ALASKA: Alaska Native Youth Find Strength, Resilience in Ancient Traditions
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NVDRS special report: Deaths from suicide among U.S. Veterans and Armed Forces in 16 states
2018
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2017
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2017
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2017
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CANADA: House of Commons Report on Indigenous Suicide Issues 28 Recommendations
2017
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Youth suicide and self-harm prevention: 2017 resource guide
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AUSTRALIA: Culture Key to Suicide Prevention among Indigenous Australians, Experts Say, Ahead of Global Discussion
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2017
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2016
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2016
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CANADA: Suicide Prevention with a Crisis Line Dedicated to Aboriginal Community
2016
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MINNESOTA: Battling a Surge in Suicides, Minnesota Investigators Wield a New Weapon: Data
2016
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Tools from the CAPT: Increasing cultural competence to reduce behavioral health disparities
2016
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2016
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Entrepreneurship education: A strength-based approach to substance use and suicide prevention for American Indian adolescents
2016
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Guidelines/Recommendations
Responding to Grief, Trauma, and Distress After a Suicide: U.S. National Guidelines
2015
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Racial and gender disparities in suicide among young adults aged 18–24: United States, 2009–2013
2015
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Preventing and responding to suicide clusters in American Indian and Alaska Native communities
2014
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Toolkit
CSTE tribal epidemiology toolkit: Improving data quality and data sharing with Indian country
2014
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Suicidal Behavior and Acculturation among Hispanics in the United States
2014
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Prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011
2014
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2014
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2013
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The intersection of suicide research and public health practice: Youth suicide prevention
2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2012
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Suicide and Church Attendance among African Americans and Black Caribbeans
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2012
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The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 summary report
2011
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