Addictive Screen Use and Youth Suicide Risk
A study found that trajectories (i.e., behavioral patterns) of addictive screen use were associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors and worse mental health among youth.
To investigate potential links between the use of screen-based technology and suicide and mental health issues in children and teens, most research has focused on the total time that youth spend on their screens. However, growing evidence suggests addictive screen use may be a stronger risk factor for suicide and mental health issues in youth. Yet, relatively little is known about how addictive screen use develops over time.
To address this gap, researchers used nationwide data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a population-based, 4-year follow-up study of children and adolescents carried out from 2016 to 2022. The sample included 4,285 participants with a mean age of 10 at baseline.
The researchers used validated self-report questionnaires to assess participants’ addictive use of three screen-based platforms: social media, mobile phones, and video games. They used child- and parent-report interviews to assess suicidal thoughts and behaviors and a parent-report checklist to measure mental health symptoms characterized as internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety) or externalizing (e.g., rule-breaking, aggression).
The results showed the following addictive use trajectories among participants over four years, beginning at age 11:
- Social media: High-peaking, 9.6%; increasing, 31.3%; low, 59.1%
- Mobile phones: High, 49.2%; increasing, 24.6%; low, 26.2%
- Video games: High, 41.1%; low, 58.9%
High or increasing addictive use was associated with greater risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than low addictive use. Youth with high-peaking or increasing social media use or high video game use had more internalizing or externalizing mental health symptoms.
According to the authors, this was the first study to assess longitudinal addictive use trajectories for social media, mobile phones, and video games among youth and their associations with suicide and mental health outcomes. They noted that high or increasing use trajectories were common among participants, with nearly 1 in 2 having a high addictive use trajectory for mobile phones.
These findings suggest that focusing future research on addictive screen use may be more effective than focusing solely on total screen time. Research in this area could help strengthen clinical risk assessment and interventions to address youth suicide and mental health.
Xiao, Y., Meng, Y., Brown, T. T., Keyes, K. M., Mann, J. J. (2025). Addictive screen use trajectories and suicidal behaviors, suicidal ideation, and mental health in US youths. JAMA, 334(3), 219–228. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.7829
Author: Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
Year Published/Updated: 2026
Resource Type: Research Summary
Suicide Deaths by Drug Poisoning, 2023
Data Table:
Source: CDC, 2023
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]) Available from URL: www.wisqars.cdc.gov
Injury Outcome: Fatal
Injury Type: All Injury
Data Years: 2023
Geography: United States
Intent: Suicide
Mechanism: All Injury
Age: All Ages
Sexes: All Sexes
Race: All Races
Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
Metro/Non-Metro Indicator: None Selected
YPLL Age: 65
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
MCD – ICD-10 Codes: T40.1 (Heroin); T40.0, T40.2, T40.3 (Opium, Methadone, Other opioids); T40.4 (Other synthetic narcotics); T40.5 (Cocaine), T42.4 (Benzodiazepines); T43.6 (Psychostimulants with abuse potential) AND X60-X84 (Intentional sel-harm)
Year/Month: 2023
Group By: Year
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates Among People of More Than One Race in the U.S. by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
*Non-Hispanic
**Note. Ages 85+ are not reported because data is unreliable
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
Hispanic Origin: Not Hispanic or Latino
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Single Race 6; Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates Among White People in the U.S. by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
*Non-Hispanic
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
Hispanic Origin: Not Hispanic or Latino
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Single Race 6; Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates Among Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander People by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
*Non-Hispanic
**Note. Ages 65+ are not reported because data is unreliable
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
Hispanic Origin: Not Hispanic or Latino
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Single Race 6; Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates Among Hispanic or Latino People in the U.S. by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Hispanic Origin; Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates Among Black or African American People by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
*Non-Hispanic
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
Hispanic Origin: Not Hispanic or Latino
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Single Race 6; Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates Among Asian People in the U.S. by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
*Non-Hispanic
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
Hispanic Origin: Not Hispanic or Latino
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Single Race 6; Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates Among American Indian and Alaska Native People by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
*Non-Hispanic
**Note. Ages 85+ are not reported because data is unreliable
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
Hispanic Origin: Not Hispanic or Latino
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Single Race 6; Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Past-Year Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among High School Youth, 2023
Data Table:
*Self-Reported
Source: CDC, 2025
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2025). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at http://yrbs-explorer.services.cdc.gov/.
Past-Year Self-Reported Suicidal Thoughts and Suicide Attempts Among Adults, 2024
Data Table:
Source: SAMHSA, 2025
Citation:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2024 (NSDUH-2024-DS001). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/
Tables: 6.71B & 6.73B
Rates of Suicide by Race/Ethnicity, 2019-2023
Data Table:
*Non-Hispanic
Age-adjusted rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
Hispanic Origin: Not Hispanic or Latino
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Year; Single Race 6
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Standard Population: 2000 U.S. Std. Population
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Year; Hispanic Origin
Show Totals: True
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Standard Population: 2000 U.S. Std. Population
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)
Suicide Rates by Age, 2019-2023
Data Table:
Crude rate per 100,000
Source: CDC, 2024
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2023 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2024. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2023, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program.
ICD-10 Codes: X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Year/Month: 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023
Group By: Year, Ten-Year Age Groups
Show Totals: Disabled
Show Zero Values: False
Show Suppressed: False
Calculate Rates Per: 100,000
Rate Options: Default intercensal populations for years 2001-2009 (except Infant Age Groups)