Advocacy Opportunities for Pediatricians and Emergency Physicians to Prevent Youth Suicide

Abstract

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10-19 years in the United States. Pediatricians and emergency physicians have the opportunity to contribute to youth suicide prevention in their daily practice. Moreover, clinicians can advocate for local practice improvements and national policies to achieve a broader population-based impact on youth suicide reduction. Strategies that hold promise for improved care include integration of behavioral health care into the medical home, suicide screening in the emergency department setting, health care system quality improvement, and increased access to affordable mental health care. We review strategies for pediatricians and emergency physicians to prevent youth suicide at the level of the individual patient, practice, health care system, and nation.