A recent study published in JAMA Network Open highlights sleep disturbances as a significant risk factor for youth suicide prevention. Led by Dr. Joshua Gowin at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the research followed children aged 9 and 10 over two years, linking parent-reported sleep issues to later suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Background data indicates suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents, with around 700,000 global fatalities each year. Importantly, for every death, there are over 20 suicide attempts. The study recognizes sleep disturbances as a critical warning sign for suicide, even when accounting for depression, as noted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The study utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, gathering information from 8,807 participants at baseline. Parents completed the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, which assesses various sleep-related issues. The results showed that at follow-up, 8044 youth reported no suicidal behaviors, while others exhibited various levels of suicidal ideation and attempts.
Notably, the study found that sleep disturbances at age 10 significantly increased the risk of suicidal behaviors by age 12. The authors stress that addressing sleep issues could be a promising strategy in preventing youth suicide, calling for further investigation into this area.
