Researcher Emphasizes Community Support to Address Rising Suicide Rates Among Black Youth

On a summer day at UC Berkeley, a group of teenagers engaged in a collaborative effort at a whiteboard to brainstorm solutions for the alarming rise in suicide rates among Black youth. This initiative is part of a larger research project aimed at developing programs to combat a trend that has seen suicide rates among Black individuals aged 10 to 17 increase by 144% from 2007 to 2020, with Black boys experiencing over double the suicide rate of Black girls. Notably, the suicide rate for Black girls rose 182% between 2001 and 2017.

Throughout this project, which involved the Homeless Children’s Network and the Jabali Youth Advocacy organization, Brooks Stephens noted the empowering moment when the teens realized their capacity to create programs that could improve their mental health. "Seeing them find and discover that sense of agency in themselves — that was invaluable to me," she remarked. This experience also marked one of their few visits to a college campus, further enriching their engagement.

Brooks Stephens aims to utilize the findings from her study to guide clinicians and policymakers in enhancing suicide prevention strategies for Black youth. Her approach focuses on participatory research, emphasizing what helps youth thrive rather than merely responding to crises. "I’m interested in understanding what helps youth thrive — what gives them hope and a sense of possibility," she stated.

Despite the overall decline in suicide rates among U.S. adolescents, Brooks Stephens argues that the unique challenges facing Black youth require specifically tailored interventions. A 2023 report from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlights how the impacts of racism on young people significantly heighten their risk of suicide. Her research underscores the detrimental effects of racial discrimination and the COVID-19 pandemic on Black young adults' mental health.

Brooks Stephens, influenced by her own experiences and academic training, emphasizes the need for Black youth to define themselves, recognize their strengths, and imagine their futures without the constraints of societal expectations. She has identified the stigma surrounding mental health as a barrier that stifles help-seeking behavior within Black families.

Her recent work has led to the development of the Black Youth Thriving Framework for Suicide Prevention, which identifies six protective factors to enhance mental well-being among Black youth, such as family support, community ties, and self-acceptance. Recent studies suggest that higher self-acceptance correlates with lower vulnerability to depression and suicide.

Brooks Stephens argues that current suicide prevention efforts often focus on crisis intervention rather than fostering resilience and hope. She is dedicated to creating research-based strategies to prevent distress before it escalates. By involving Black youth in the development of these strategies, she aims to ensure that their voices shape solutions that promote self-love and a desire to live.

"It’s uplifting for me because I’m bringing underserved voices into our research and designing solutions that help kids want to live and love themselves,” she concluded.