Mental Health Intervention Can Avert Teen Suicide

University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) scientists say that the number of troubled teens who kill themselves every year could be significantly reduced if authorities, doctors and parents agree to specialized mental health interventions from early on.

In a paper published in the November issue of the journal Psychiatric Services, UCLA psychiatry professor Joan Asarnow reveals that family-based intervention exhibited the highest rate of success in preventing suicides among troubled teens.

“Youths who are treated for suicidal behavior in emergency departments are at very high risk for future attempts,” explains Asarnow, who was also the first author of the new study. A total of 181 suicidal youths were included in this research, PsychCentral reports.

“So, a national objective is to increase the rates of mental health follow-up treatment for suicidal patients coming out of emergency departments,” the investigator concludes.